SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – The Shippensburg University baseball team will compete in the 2015 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Baseball Championships beginning Wednesday from from Kelly Automotive Park in Butler, Pa. The Raiders are the East's No. 3 seed and will open against West No. 2 seed Seton Hill.
 
Live statistics of the tournament will be provided by the PSAC and can be accessed through the link located above. The Shippensburg University sports information department will be providing live Twitter updates throughout the tournament; that information can also be accessed by clicking on the link located above.
 
Single-day passes are being sold for $10 for adults and $5 for students. Students of PSAC institutions with valid identification will be admitted for free. No complimentary tickets are available.
 
Shippensburg (25-23, 17-11 PSAC East) returns to the PSAC Championships after a two-year absence. Seton Hill (39-9, 22-6 PSAC West), defending Atlantic Region Champions, are appearing in their second straight PSAC Tournament after joining the Western Division in 2014.
 
The last time these two teams met was the 2013 NCAA Atlantic Regional Tournament. Shippensburg lost to Seton Hill early in the tournament before winning two consecutive games over the Griffins on the final day to advance to the College World Series. Seton Hill entered the 2013 Tournament ranked No. 8 in the country in batting average (.342) but were limited by Raider pitching to a .215 clip (20-for-93) in the three tournament meetings.
 
Although SU missed the playoffs a year ago, there are still several Raiders with significant post-season experience.
 
"Having guys still on the team who went to the World Series will be very beneficial. They should be able to help calm the nerves of those who haven't been to the postseason before," said head coach Matt Jones.
 
Seton Hill has displayed a strong offense this season, as it currently leads the PSAC in doubles, triples, home runs, batting average, hit by pitches, on-base percentage, stolen bases and runs scored.
 
The Griffins are paced by perhaps the most dynamic hitter in the conference, senior shortstop Nick Sell, who batted .438, with 57 runs, 15 doubles, 25 home runs and 82 RBIs. Several of his statistics rank at or near the top of Division II.
 
"As far as Sell and the rest of (Seton Hill's) lineup goes, we just need to focus on what we do well," Jones said. "We can't change because they have big numbers. We just have to pitch to our strengths and play good defense."
 
Shippensburg is paced offensively by sophomore Jake Kennedy, who has hit a school-record 18 home runs this season and leads the team with 47 RBIs.
 
"Jake has been tremendous in the middle of our lineup. It seems like whoever we put 1-3 keeps getting on base and he knocks them in," Jones said. "Our run production has been great this year and he is a big part."
 
Another key contributor to the Raider offense is sophomore infielder Ryan McMillen. He has hit .356 this season with 20 doubles, a total just two shy of the of the SU single-season record.
 
Of SU's nine qualified hitters, eight are hitting over .300. The Raiders have scored eight or more runs in 18 games this season and are 15-3 in those contests. SU is 16-1 when allowing three runs or less.
 
For those unfamiliar with the PSAC Tournament, it is double-elimination style. A bracket and full schedule is available at the PSAC Championships page posted above.