Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – The Shippensburg University baseball team split a sunny Friday afternoon twinbill from Fairchild Field, earning an 8-2 victory over Mansfield in the opening game before dropping a 6-5 decision in the nightcap.

Shippensburg (24-18, 10-8 PSAC East) remains in a logjam with Kutztown (10-8) and Bloomsburg (11-9) as three of the current PSAC East playoff teams. First-place West Chester (12-6) is two games ahead of the pack while Millersville (11-11) and East Stroudsburg (8-10) are currently on the outside looking in. All three of the PSAC East doubleheaders split on Friday, with Bloomsburg being on its “off” weekend.

Senior Nick Umberger threw his sixth complete game of the season to propel the Raiders in the opener. Umberger allowed just two runs on three hits and did not walk a batter, striking out two. Junior Tom Bush recorded his first five outs in Game 2 via strikeout but ended up lasting just 4.1 innings total. Bush ended up with a no decision.

Four Raiders finished the doubleheader with three hits. Freshman Jimmy Spanos hit his first collegiate home run and had four RBIs, while senior Eric Herman contributed three RBIs and two stolen bases from the leadoff spot. Junior Cody Kulp had a single, double, triple and a walk while junior Tyler Shover was 3-for-6 with two RBIs and two runs scored.

Shippensburg is scheduled to be back in action tomorrow, weather permitting, in a 1 p.m. doubleheader from Shaute Field.

Around the PSAC, Kutztown moved up the start time of its doubleheader with East Stroudsburg to 11 a.m., while Millersville will host Kutztown at 1 p.m. from Marauder Park.

Game 1: Shippensburg 8, Mansfield 2

The first 10 batters of the game drew outs before sophomore first baseman Pat Kregeloh hit a home run down the left field line for his third round-tripper of the season. Junior designated hitter Steve Sulcoski then reached first after a hit-by-pitch and advanced to second on a wild pitch with Shover at the plate. Shover then drove Sulcoski home with a single.

Umberger again mowed down the side in the third inning before the SU offense extended the lead in the bottom half of the frame. Basso led off with a single then raced to third on a Herman single to right field. Herman then stole second before Spanos hit an RBI sacrifice fly to left field to score Basso. Kulp tripled to plate Herman in the next at-bat before scoring on an RBI groundout from junior left fielder Simon Beloff for a 5-0 SU lead.

The Mountaineers did some damage in the fourth inning, however, beginning with its lead-off hitter reaching base on a Shippensburg throwing error and advancing to second on a wild pitch. Matt Fisher tripled the runner home and then scored on a ground out to cut SU's lead to 5-2.

The Raiders added three more runs in the bottom of the sixth. Kregeloh and Sulcoski led off with a walk and a single to right field, respectively. Shover then brought Kregeloh home with an RBI single to right field in the next at-bat. Sulcoski later scored on a Herman fielder's choice before Spanos brought Shover home with an RBI single.

Umberger then induced a line out and a fly out in the top of the seventh before allowing a single to the third batter. The runner then tried to stretch the hit into a double, but junior right fielder Tyler Basso threw out the runner at second base to finish off Umberger's complete game.

Game 2: Mansfield 6, Shippensburg 5

The Raiders jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the second inning with Spanos' home run to left field that scored Herman (who led off with a single). SU tacked on another run in the third with a lead-off bunt from senior first baseman Jimmy Miller, who advanced to second on a passed ball and to third on a groundout. Herman grounded out to second base to score Jimmy Miller.

MU cut its deficit to 3-2 in the third inning, capitalizing on a hit and two Shippensburg errors. The Mountaineers then exploded for five hits and four more runs in the sixth to grab a 6-3 lead.

In the bottom of the frame, Shippensburg answered. Senior shortstop Ben Miller led off with a walk, made his way to second on a Shover single to center field and got to third on a Jimmy Miller fly out to right. Ben Miller later scored on a wild pitch with Herman at the plate, who doubled down the left field line to plate Shover and cut the Shippensburg deficit to 6-5.

Kulp led off with a single to left field in the bottom of the seventh, got to second on a sacrifice bunt from junior right fielder David McKolosky and advanced to third on a Kregeloh groundout. Mansfield pitcher Andy Young struck out the final SU batter to seal the victory.