Box Score

SALISBURY, N.C. – Sophomore Nick Umberger dazzled in his fourth career start on Friday afternoon and junior center fielder AJ Czap homered on his first pitch as a Red Raider in the team's 2010 season opener, but Shippensburg dropped a 2-1 decision in six innings to No. 17 Catawba.

Shippensburg (0-1) was finally able to escape the storms that dropped nearly three feet of snow in the region over the past week but arrived in North Carolina facing the sight of more snow. The temperature at Newman Field was hovering around 36 degrees and snow flurries were falling at the first pitch.

Friday's game was supposed to be a nine-inning affair but heavy snow in the top of the seventh inning warranted the game being called. SU had three batters ground out in the seventh but the at-bats were scratched because a shortened game reverts to the last completed full inning.

The game was a pitcher's duel and Umberger was rock solid on the hill for the Red Raiders. Umberger, who struck out just seven batters in 23 innings as a freshman, tallied nine punchouts in five solid innings on Friday. He yielded an RBI-double in the first inning and cleverly worked out of a bases-loaded, one-out jam in the fifth by striking out the cleanup batter and inducing a grounder to shortstop.

Czap was the offensive star after slugging a round tripper to right field that gave Shippensburg a 1-0 lead in the top of the first. The Red Raiders began the top of the sixth inning with a leadoff double by sophomore shortstop Ben Miller but he was stranded at second base.

Sophomore left fielder Eric Herman reached base in both of his plate appearances with a single and a hit by pitch. Junior catcher Kris Kullman and freshman designated hitter Kyle Hollingsworth also had hits in the contest.

Catawba (5-0) was also paced by an outstanding effort from its starting pitcher. Nathan Furr yielded just five hits and no walks in six innings, striking out nine batters. Brett Hatley worked a scoreless seventh inning for the save. The team's second baseman, Craige Lyerly, went 0-for-2 with two walks but had his 39-game hitting streak snapped.

The margin of victory was an unearned run in the sixth inning off sophomore relief pitcher Ted Williams. Garrett Furr led off the sixth for the Indians by reaching second base as a result of a throwing error. An ensuing sacrifice bunt attempt went as a single to put runners on first and third base. Williams struck out the next two batters, but a wild pitch on the second punchout allowed Furr to score.

The Red Raiders will continue their season-opening four-game series with a doubleheader at 1 p.m. tomorrow.