SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – Sophomore Jake Kennedy tied and broke the Shippensburg University record for home runs in a single season in consecutive at-bats Friday in the opening game of a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) doubleheader with West Chester. The Raiders fell 5-4 in the opener and won the nightcap, 7-3, on Senior Day at Fairchild Field.
 
Kennedy finished the afternoon 2-for-5 with three RBIs and three walks. His 18 home runs rank third in the PSAC, and are five more than the No. 4 player on the list. He also has the second-most walks in the conference (31).
 
The previous SU record holder for single-season home runs, Todd Melisauskas, was drafted by the Dodgers and inducted into the Shippensburg University Athletic Hall of Fame in 2014.
 
Shippensburg (24-22, 16-10 PSAC East) scored 11 runs on 14 hits and one error while West Chester (24-9, 18-6) totaled eight runs on 13 hits and committed two errors.
 
In Game 1, SU trailed 4-1 entering the fourth inning but got two runs on Kennedy's first home run. In his next at-bat, Kennedy opened the sixth inning with a solo shot to tie the game at 4-4.
 
West Chester scored a run in the top of the seventh inning to take the 5-4 lead.  In the home half of the seventh, the Raiders had a leadoff double from junior Austin Allison and men on first and third with two outs, but were unable to plate a run.
 
Sophomore Mark Curtis allowed five runs (four earned) in 6.2 innings while striking out eight and walking three. His eight strikeouts are a season high and one behind his career best.
 
In Game 2, SU handed WCU pitcher Nick Stallings his first loss of the season (6-1), chasing him after two-plus innings. The Raiders scored three runs in the second inning and three in the fourth.
 
Junior Marcus Shippey earned the win and allowed three runs on four hits while striking out five and walking four in six innings. Out of the pen, sophomore Josh Kutchey struck out two batters in a scoreless seventh inning to secure the victory for the Raiders.
 
Sophomore Ryan McMillen finished the day 3-for-7 with a double, walk, RBI and stolen base. The double was his 19^th of the season, the second most in the PSAC and three shy of the SU single-season record.
 
Freshman Grant Hoover started both games in left field and hit 3-for-5 with two runs, one RBI and one run. Senior Jimmy Spanos went 1-for-5 with three RBIs and a walk while Allison finished 2-for-7 with a double, a walk and two RBIs.
 
Between games, seniors Cody Ezolt, Nick Massetti and Spanos were recognized in a Senior Day ceremony.
 
Shippensburg plays West Chester on Saturday at 1 p.m. in a doubleheader from Serpico Stadium.