KUTZTOWN, Pa. – The Shippensburg University baseball team used complete game shutouts Saturday from senior Mark Curtis and junior Grant Hoover to complete the series sweep against Kutztown, 2-0 and 5-0, in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division doubleheader.
 
Shippensburg (25-18-1, 16-8 PSAC) extended its PSAC East win streak to six games and clinched a PSAC Tournament berth with the two Saturday victories over Kutztown (15-29, 4-20). SU's four-game sweep this weekend, coupled with Lock Haven's three losses this weekend against East Stroudsburg, has moved the Raiders into sole possession of second place in the PSAC East.
 
Curtis and Hoover stole the show for SU with dominant efforts on the mound. Curtis held the Golden Bears to just one hit and struck out four to win his fifth decision of the year. Hoover scattered four hits and also struck out four to record his fourth win. It was the first time since April 25, 2008 vs. Lock Haven that the Raiders shut out a PSAC opponent in a doubleheader sweep.
 
For Curtis, it was his ninth career complete game and second career shutout while Hoover recorded both his first career complete game and shutout with his effort Saturday.
 
Shippensburg will return to action Tuesday at 3 p.m. when it hosts Seton Hill for one nine-inning game in a PSAC crossover matchup.
 
Game 1
 
The Raiders scored both of their runs in the top of the third inning, the first coming on a single to left field by senior Ryan McMillen that scored sophomore Tommy Baggett from second following an error by the Kutztown left fielder. Two batters later, sophomore Cash Gladfelter doubled to right center, scoring McMillen.
 
The lone hit Curtis allowed was a leadoff single by Collin Bishop in the fourth inning as he faced just two batters over the minimum for a seven-inning game. The right-hander needed just 79 pitches in his complete game effort as he retired the final 12 consecutive batters to secure the 2-0 victory for SU.
 
Game 2
 
Both teams exchanged zeroes for the first four innings until the Raiders broke through in the top of the fifth. Junior Nick Spangler singled to center, scoring Baggett and sophomore Jack Goertzen.
 
The Raiders added one run in the sixth and two runs in the seventh on a double to left center by Gladfelter that scored McMillen and sophomore Ty Painter to seal the 5-0 win.
 
Hoover totaled 95 pitches in his complete-game effort as Kutztown had just one runner reach third base. That runner was Ryan Cox, who tried to score from second on a two-out single in the fourth inning, but Spangler gunned him down at home to keep the game scoreless at the time.