Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score

KUTZTOWN, Pa. – Sophomore Jimmy Miller threw a complete-game three-hitter in the opener of a PSAC Eastern Division doubleheader at Kutztown on Saturday afternoon while the Red Raiders scored a pair of runs in the ninth inning of the nightcap to sweep the No. 14-ranked Golden Bears, 2-1 and 5-3.

Shippensburg (7-16, 3-1 PSAC East) won five of its six regional games this week and came within one strike of being the victor in the other. On the mound, Shippensburg pitched to a 4.09 earned-run average while holding opponents to a .268 batting average. The Red Raiders also compiled a .311 batting average, scored 33 runs, slugged 12 extra-base hits and drew 26 walks this week.

No. 14 Kutztown (11-4, 1-3 PSAC East) got its only run of the opening game off Miller in the first inning after an RBI-single by Mike Dugan. Miller, making just his third start of the season and the seventh start of his young career, allowed only one hit over the final six innings of the game to achieve his first collegiate victory as a starter. He struck out five batters in the complete-game effort.

Shippensburg got both of its runs in the top of the third inning. Sophomore shortstop Ben Miller drew a one-out walk and advanced two bases on separate wild pitches. The wild pitches helped junior center fielder AJ Czap earn a walk, putting runners on the corners. Junior first baseman Kris Kullman grounded out to second, scoring Miller and moving Czap to second base. Sophomore right fielder Cody Kulp then drove home what proved to be the game-winning run with a single to left field.

Just like in the opener, Kutztown's only runs of Game 2 came in the first inning. The Golden Bears captured the early momentum of the nightcap with a bases-clearing triple by right fielder Mike Dugan that put the home team up 3-0.

Shippensburg scored a single run in the third, fourth and sixth innings to tie the score. All the while, freshman Tom Bush kept the Golden Bear bats at bay by allowing just three hits over his final five innings of work. Bush allowed just five hits total in six innings while striking out five batters.

The first run of the Red Raider rally came in a very similar fashion to the opening game. Ben Miller drew another one-out walk, got to second on a wild pitch, reached third on a groundout and scored on an RBI-single by Kulp. In the fourth, sophomore left fielder Tyler Uphouse hit a leadoff double and scored on a wild pitch. Senior third baseman Kevin Scholly pulled the same feat in the sixth inning and scored on an RBI-groundout by Czap.

Freshman Josh Scott entered in relief of Bush in the seventh inning and successfully navigated his way through the dangerous middle of the order in Kutztown's lineup. With the potential winning run just 90 feet away in the seventh, Scott induced a groundout by Shayne Houck to send the game into extra innings.

The winning runs for Shippensburg came with one out in the ninth inning. Back-to-back singles by Czap and Kullman put runners on the corners, and a sacrifice fly from Kulp put Shippensburg in the lead. A single down the left-field line by Uphouse scored Kullman to give the Red Raiders their two-run cushion. Kulp took the mound in the bottom of the ninth inning and retired the side in the order for the save. Scott earned the victory with his two shutout innings in relief.

The Red Raiders will continue PSAC Eastern Division play on Tuesday afternoon at Bloomsburg with a doubleheader that begins at 1 p.m. The games were rescheduled after rain prevented the original doubleheader from being played on March 12.