SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – The Shippensburg University baseball team scored nine runs in the first inning of the opening game Tuesday against IUP and went on to take Game 1, 18-9, before falling in the nightcap, 13-6 in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) crossover doubleheader held at Fairchild Field.
 
Shippensburg (9-13) combined for 24 runs on 20 hits and two errors while IUP (8-8) finished with 22 runs on 32 hits and zero errors.
 
Each game of the doubleheader saw strong offensive performances from each team and lasted more than two-and-a-half hours apiece.
 
The 18 runs in Game 1 are the most scored by Shippensburg in a single game since April 10, 2010 at East Stroudsburg when the Raiders won 18-5 in the second game of a doubleheader.
 
The Raiders travel to East Stroudsburg Friday for a twinbill beginning at 1 p.m. before hosting the Warriors on Saturday at Fairchild Field.
 
Game 1
 
Shippensburg came roaring out of the gates by scoring nine runs on five hits and four walks in the first inning, four runs in the second inning and one run in the third to lead IUP, 14-0.
 
Subsequently, the Crimson Hawks responded with eight runs in the top of the fourth inning, however, scored just one run over the final three innings.
 
Senior Jimmy Spanos finished the game 4-for-4 with a double, two RBIs and two walks.
 
Sophomore Jake Kennedy hit his ninth home run of the season and was 2-for-4 with two runs, three RBIs and a walk.
 
All nine starters drove home a run and the team recorded a total of 13 walks.
 
Senior Cody Ezolt was 0-1, however, drew four walks and scored three runs.
 
Junior Kyle McClintock threw four innings and allowed two earned runs while walking three and striking out three.
 
Freshman Grant Hoover and junior Seth LeFever each tossed a scoreless inning in relief.
 
Game 2
 
Despite allowing two runs in the top of the second, Shippensburg tallied six runs in the bottom half of the frame after the Raiders loaded the bases with no outs when three consecutive batters were hit by pitches.
 
Next, freshman Nick Spangler and sophomore Ryan Hill drew run-scoring walks in the following plate appearances to guide the six-run rally for the Raiders.
 
IUP responded with a seven-run fourth inning and did not allow another run over the final five frames with help from Christian McClure who allowed just two hits in four scoreless innings of relief and recorded three strikeouts.
 
Spanos, junior Mike Marcinko and junior Austin Allison each went 1-for-4 with one RBI.
 
IUP had 20 hits but 18 were singles with the only extra-base hits coming on a home run from Ryan Uhl and a double from Austin Mock.
 
Senior Nick Massetti threw three innings, allowed two runs and struck out six and LeFever tossed two scoreless innings in relief, allowing just one hit.