Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score

SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – The bats came alive for the Shippensburg University baseball team on a gorgeous Tuesday afternoon from Fairchild Field as the Red Raider hitters slugged five home runs in an impressive doubleheader sweep of regional rival California (Pa.), a squad ranked No. 4 in the latest NCBWA regional poll. Shippensburg won both games 9-6.

Shippensburg (4-15) trailed 6-1 in the fourth inning of the opening game but rallied with eight unanswered runs and capped off the comeback victory with a walkoff three-run home run over the center-field fence by sophomore shortstop Ben Miller. Batting in the leadoff spot, Miller went 3-for-4 in the opener with a pair of home runs, four RBIs and four runs scored.

The Red Raiders erased a 2-0 deficit in the second game but sealed its second victory of the day in the bottom of the sixth inning with a three-run round tripper over the right-field fence by sophomore third baseman Tyler Uphouse. In a breakout performance, Uphouse went 4-for-4 with a home run, double and six RBIs.

California (9-6), a squad fresh off a four-game sweep of PSAC Western Division favorite Slippery Rock and also receiving votes in the NCBWA national poll, raced out to an early lead in the opening game against freshman Tom Bush and sophomore Ryan Rehman. Bush pitched well through the first three innings but was pulled after allowing two batters to reach in the fourth inning. The Vulcans plated four runs in the inning off Bush and Rehman.

The first-game rally began with a four-run fifth inning for the Red Raiders. Singles from Ben Miller and junior center fielder AJ Czap set the table for an RBI-single by junior first baseman Kris Kullman that made the score 6-2. The fourth consecutive hit of the inning came off the bat of sophomore right fielder Cody Kulp, who crushed a 1-0 pitch over the center-field fence for a three-run homer that brought SU within one run, 6-5.

In the bottom of the sixth inning, Ben Miller drew a leadoff walk, moved to second after a one-out walk to Kullman, reached third on a wild pitch and then came around to score after a sacrifice fly by Kulp. Miller's next at-bat was the walk-off round tripper on a full count in the eighth pitch of his at-bat. The opportunity was set up by one-out singles from freshman catcher Kyle Hollingsworth and sophomore second baseman Eric Herman.

Another crucial factor to Shippensburg's opening-game comeback was the stellar relief effort of sophomore southpaw Ted Williams, who threw three scoreless innings while scattering two hits and striking out four. Williams earned his first victory of the season.

The Vulcans got two runs off freshman Josh Scott to start the second game with a round tripper by Sam DiMatteo. In the bottom of the first inning, Czap launched a 370-foot moonshot to right field and Uphouse ripped a two-out, two-run double down the right-field line.

A three-run bottom of the third inning gave Shippensburg a 6-3 advantage. A seven-pitch at-bat by Czap resulted in a single through the right side. The junior then used his speed to reach third base on a drag bunt by Kullman and scored after a full-count RBI-double by Kulp. With two outs, Uphouse delivered an RBI-single to score Kulp and eventually came around the diamond after singles from senior first baseman Kevin Scholly and Hollingsworth.

Cal eventually chased Scott with a run in the fourth inning and got another in the fifth inning with some two-out hits off sophomore Jimmy Miller, but the Red Raiders broke the game open in the bottom of the sixth inning. With Czap and Jimmy Miller on base after walks, Uphouse slammed his home run over the right-field fence to cap off a career day.

Kulp finished the doubleheader 5-for-7 with five RBIs, three runs and two extra-base hits, while Uphouse also reached base five times on Tuesday. Ben Miller had four hits, Czap had three hits and scored four runs and Hollingsworth also had three hits.

After rain washed out last weekend's schedule, Shippensburg will open PSAC Eastern Division play at 1 p.m. Friday from Fairchild Field against Kutztown.