SALISBURY, N.C. – The Shippensburg University baseball team dropped a pair of heartbreakers on Saturday afternoon to the Indians of Catawba College, a squad that was picked in the preseason to win the South Atlantic Conference. SU dropped the opener, 2-1, and the nightcap, 5-3.

Shippensburg (0-5) got six shutout innings in the opener from junior southpaw Nick Umberger, who scattered three hits and walked just one while fanning six. SU took a 1-0 lead in the second inning with a sacrifice fly off the bat of freshman designated hitter Pat Kregeloh.

Catawba (5-2) rallied in the eighth inning off junior Jimmy Miller. A one-out single with the bases loaded by All-SAC preseason second team pick Garrett Furr tied the score at one and chased Miller. Sophomore David McKolosky entered the game but yielded a walk that put the Indians on top, 2-1. McKolosky worked out of the jam with a foul out and a fielder's choice.

In the top of the ninth, Catawba brought in its closer - All-SAC preseason first team pick Wil Huneycutt – who retired the side in order for his first save of the season. Indian starter Nick Lomascolo, an All-SAC preseason second teamer, earned the victory and did not allow an earned run in eight innings.

The Raiders took the lead in the nightcap as well, going up 1-0 in its first at-bat after an RBI-double by junior third baseman Ben Miller. SU established a 2-0 lead in the top of the fifth with an RBI-single off the bat of sophomore shortstop Sam Phillips, but the Indians rallied for three runs in the bottom of the fifth off sophomore starter Tom Bush.

SU remained in the game thanks to a solid relief performance by freshman southpaw Austin Bartley, who allowed just one hit and struck out three batters in 1.2 scoreless innings of work.

Needing a run in its final at-bat, SU rallied to tie the score. Senior Jesse Smith led off the seventh inning with an infield single and was advanced to second base after a sacrifice bunt by sophomore Zack Piper. After a wild pitch and a groundout, Phillips brought home Smith with an RBI-single up the middle.

Unfortunately, Catawba answered with a walk-off. Furr drew a one-out walk against junior reliever Kody Kibler and in the next at-bat, first baseman Austin Moyer sent everyone home with a two-run shot over the right-field fence.

Seven different Raiders finished the doubleheader with at least one hit. Phillips and senior AJ Czap each had three hits between the two games and were the only two SU players to reach base in both contests.

On Sunday, Shippensburg will finish the three-game series with a 1 p.m. game at Catawba.