SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – The Shippensburg University baseball team used a four-run first inning and solid pitching on Tuesday to secure a non-conference victory over Shepherd, 7-4, on a sunny and breezy afternoon at Fairchild Field.
 
Shippensburg (12-15) batted around, scoring four runs on six hits in the first inning to respond to a Shepherd (13-6) run in the top of the first. Sophomore Grant Hoover got things started with an RBI-single after leadoff hitter Mike Marcinko singled and stole second base.
 
With the bases loaded and one out, sophomore Nick Spangler singled on a line drive to right field that scored two more Raiders. Freshman Cash Gladfelter finished the big first inning by slapping a double down the left field line to score sophomore Dalton Hoiles.
 
The Raiders added two more runs in the third when Gladfelter hit a sacrifice fly to center field. Freshman Jack Goertzen followed with a flare to center field that bounced off a Ram and turned into an RBI double. In the sixth, senior Austin Allison doubled home Marcinko, who had a leadoff single.
 
Meanwhile, SU starter Kyle McClintock limited Shepherd to just three runs on five hits in five innings for the victory. The senior lefty struck out five and threw 95 pitches. Junior Josh Kutchey scattered a hit and a walk over two strong shutout innings of relief, striking out two. Redshirt-freshman Tyler Butcher scattered a run on three hits over two innings with two strikeouts.
 
The Raiders turned three double plays on the day, including a 6-4-3 twin killing to end the game. SU also escaped jams in the third and the seventh.
 
Marcinko finished the day 3-for-5 with two runs and two stolen bases. Spangler was 3-for-4 with two RBIs. Hoover and Allison each had two hits, while the Raiders finished with 14 as a team.
 
Shippensburg will host Mansfield at 1 p.m. Friday in a conference doubleheader from Fairchild Field.