The Shippensburg University baseball team struggled in its re-match with regional rival Shepherd on Tuesday, as the Raiders dropped a 20-4 decision to the Rams on a sunny and warm afternoon from Fairfax Field.
 
Shippensburg (22-22) took a 3-0 lead in the top of the second inning on a three-run home run by freshman Austin Bulman, who was making his first collegiate start and doing so in his hometown of Shepherdstown. It is Bulman's first collegiate home run.
 
Shepherd (30-13) countered immediately, however, plating eight runs in the bottom of the second to take control. The Rams, ranked fifth in the Atlantic Region, totaled 16 hits on the day, including four home runs, and benefited from 11 Raider walks.
 
Senior Dalton Hoiles doubled and drew a walk. Freshman Scout Knotts plated SU's fourth and final run with a sacrifice fly in the fifth.
 
SU used five pitchers in the contest. Sophomore Jack Jenkens threw two scoreless innings of relief, keeping the Rams off the scoreboard in the seventh and the eighth, while recording one strikeout.
 
The two teams split the season series. The Raiders won the previous matchup by a 12-11 score in 10 innings back on April 10. SU rallied from a 9-2 deficit in that game.
 
Shippensburg will travel to Kutztown on Friday in a battle for the PSAC playoffs. The Raiders will face the Golden Bears at 1 p.m. from North Campus Field. SU will need to win at least three, or possibly all four of its games this weekend to have a shot at the postseason.