Box Score

SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – Junior Cam Richardson gave up just three hits over five innings of work in his first start of the season but the Shippensburg University baseball team fell in a nine-inning affair to Wilmington (Del.), 4-3, from a cold and rainy Fairchild Field on Wednesday afternoon.

Shippensburg (23-17) – which hadn't played a game since last Tuesday – scored a run in each of the first two innings but totaled just two hits over the next four frames. The Raiders held a 2-1 lead after five innings, but the Wildcats (25-14) scored a run in the sixth and seventh with sacrifice flies and added a game-winning RBI single in the ninth for the victory.

Senior Eric Herman, playing left field in the contest, went 3-for-4 with a run and a game-tying RBI single in the seventh. Junior right fielder Tyler Basso was 2-for-4 with a run.

Richardson gave up his lone run of the day in the first inning after allowing a leadoff double to Wilmington's B.J. Janney, who later scored on a sacrifice fly. The Raiders' offense got the run right back in the bottom half of the inning, however. Herman and freshman second baseman Jimmy Spanos led off with a single and a double down the left field line, respectively.

In the next at-bat, junior center fielder Cody Kulp hit an RBI sacrifice fly to left field to plate Herman and tie the game at 1. In the second inning, some efficient base running from junior catcher Tyler Shover allowed SU to take the lead.

Shover led off with a single to right center field and, with senior designated hitter Jimmy Miller at the plate, stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Jimmy Miller then stroked a 2-1 pitch to right field for an RBI single and a 2-1 Raiders lead.

The Wildcats kicked off the sixth inning with a double, a bunt single and a sacrifice fly to knot the game at 2. Sophomore pitcher Shawn Patterson forced a groundout and a fly out to end the WU rally, however.

In the next inning, Wilmington managed to take a 3-2 lead beginning with back-to-back bunt singles with one out. After a walk loaded the bases, the Wildcats plated a run with an RBI sacrifice fly to center field.

Basso singled to right field in the bottom of the seventh before Herman ripped his RBI single with two outs to left center field that scored Basso and tied the game at 3.

In the top of the ninth inning, however, Wilmington's Brendan Fallers doubled down the left field line with two outs and came home in the next at-bat with an RBI single through the right side.

Down 4-3 and after two SU groundouts led off the bottom of the ninth, Basso kept Shippensburg's hope alive with a single to center field that snuck past the outfielder and allowed Basso to advance all the way to third. After working the next at-bat to a full count, sophomore pinch hitter Kyle Hollingsworth grounded out to third base to end the game.

Next Wed., April 25, the two teams will play another nine-inning game at 3:30 p.m. from Fairchild Field. The Raiders are back in action on Friday with a 1 p.m. home doubleheader against Mansfield.