SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – The Shippensburg University baseball team cut what had been a five-run deficit down to just a single run in the bottom of the seventh, but was unable to push the tying run across in their last two turns in a loss to the Wilmington (Del.) Wildcats on a cold and windy Wednesday afternoon at Fairchild Field, 9-8.
 
Shippensburg (13-8) junior Andrew Chronister ripped a three-run double to cap the Raiders' big four-run seventh-inning rally. Sophomore Bryce Herb scalded a two-run triple earlier in the day.
 
Wilmington (6-7) pulled ahead a half inning earlier with a five-run rally in the top half of the frame highlighted by a monster three-run blast from CJ Deery (2-for-3, 3 RBI). Clean-up hitter Eddie Parry (3-for-4, 2 RBI) also went deep for the Wildcats Wednesday, getting the scoring started with a solo shot in the top of the second.
 
The Raiders then responded with a four spot in the home half. Sophomore Jaxon Dalena doubled to left to plate Chronister, who worked a one-out walk. Junior Joe Barbera singled, which led to Herb's long triple that drove in both base runners.
 
Herb would later score on a wild pitch to give the Raiders a 4-1 cushion.
 
The Wildcats scored three in the top of the third to even the score at 4-4, where it remained until the seventh – an inning that saw the two teams combine for nine runs.
 
The first three batters for Wilmington reached to start the top half, with the third singling home the go-ahead run. Another Wildcat single one out later plated a second run and put two men on for Deery. The Wilmington left fielder then deposited a two-strike pitch over the left field fence to give the visitors a commanding 9-4 edge.
 
Shippensburg did not get discouraged by the deficit. Baal was plunked by a pitch with the bases loaded to bring them one closer, and Chronister followed with a bullet that got past the Wilmington centerfielder and rolled all the way to the wall, clearing the bases.
 
The Raiders had several opportunities to score the tying run. Chronister was caught attempting to steal third in the seventh, and Herb hit a one-out ground rule double in the eighth but was left stranded.
 
Wilmington closer Dom Grady then retired the heart of the SU batting order 1-2-3 in the ninth to wrap up the Wildcat victory.
 
Barbera (3-for-4, 1 R) led the Raiders with three hits Wednesday. Herb (2-for-4, 2 RBI, 1 R), Dalena (2-for-4, 1 R, 1 RBI) and graduate Justin Byler (2-for-5, 1 R) also had multi-hit games for Shippensburg.
 
Junior Jackson LoBianco left the door open for a Raider comeback with a pair of scoreless frames in relief.
 
Redshirt-freshman Eric Bohenek started for the Raiders and pitched to a no-decision (2.1, 3 ER, 2 K). Freshman Brenden Anderson pitched 3.2 innings, including scoreless frames in the fourth, fifth and sixth – only to be charged with the loss.
 
Chronister, the Raider backstop, threw out three would be base stealers defensively.
 
The Raiders return to Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) play Friday at Bloomsburg. First pitch is slated for 2 p.m.