Box Score 1 | Box Score 2
SALISBURY, N.C. – The Shippensburg University baseball team opened the 2012 season on an extremely windy Saturday afternoon at Newman Park by splitting a doubleheader with No. 30 Catawba. SU dropped the nine-inning opener, 6-4, before winning the seven-inning finale, 11-3.

Shippensburg (1-1) used a seven-run sixth inning to take control of the nightcap, plating all of its runs before recording an out in the inning. A three-run home run by junior left fielder Simon Beloff was the decisive blow in the frame. The Raiders also got runs in the inning on a balk, an error and a two-run single by sophomore designated hitter Kyle Hollingsworth.

Senior Nick Umberger outdueled Indian starter Nick Lomascolo by tossing a complete game, allowing three earned while striking out three. The win is SU's first over Catawba in the last nine meetings dating back to 2003. 

Junior Cody Kulp was impressive at the plate between the two games, going 4-for-8 with two doubles, an RBI and three runs scored. He also laid out for a splendid diving catch in the second game.

Beloff, senior first baseman Jimmy Miller and freshman second baseman Jimmy Spanos each had three hits in the doubleheader.

SU opened the scoring in the second game with two runs in the third inning – one on a fielder's choice by Hollingsworth and another on a Catawba throwing error. The Raiders got two more in the fifth with an RBI-double from Kulp and an RBI-single from sophomore third baseman Pat Kregeloh. 

Junior Tom Bush took the loss in the opener. Bush went five innings, allowing four runs (three earned) on seven hits. He struck out one. Sophomore Austin Bartley allowed two runs (one earned) in 1.1 innings of relief while senior Ted Williams got the final five outs.

SU trailed 6-1 through the first seven innings of the opener before a two-out rally in the eighth inning made things interesting. Senior Eric Herman reached on an error to start the inning but was still sitting on second when Kulp singled to put runners on first and third. Beloff then singled home Herman, and Kregeloh drew a walk. 

With the bases loaded, junior catcher Tyler Shover singled into center field to plate Kulp and Beloff and brought the potential go-ahead run to the plate. Indian reliever Ross Whitley entered the game and struck out Jimmy Miller to end the threat. Whitley recorded the final four outs to earn a save.

Shippensburg will wrap up the three-game series at noon tomorrow from Newman Park.

Notes: Umberger and Lomascolo faced each other last season in a game won by Catawba 2-1…Umberger threw one-hit ball through six innings with six strikeouts but took a no decision…Lomascolo allowed one unearned run in eight innings to pick up a win…SU lost all three games to Catawba last year, four in 2010 and two in 2006…the Raiders got their first run in the opener after senior shortstop Ben Miller doubled and later scored on a wild pitch.