SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – The Shippensburg University baseball team picked up a pair of victories over Mercy College in a non-conference Senior Day doubleheader at Fairchild Field, 7-4 and 5-4, on Saturday afternoon.
 
Shippensburg (24-22) notched 24 base hits in the doubleheader, including hits from every member of the batting lineup in Game 2.
 
Mercy (12-30) challenged the Raiders heavily in Game 2, posting four runs in the second inning.
 
Freshman Mike Heckman lead the way for SU, going 4-for-8 at the plate. All nine batters for Shippensburg tallied at least 2 hits.
 
Game 1
 
Shippensburg grabbed momentum early on in Game 1 with sophomore Carter Hinds leading off the bottom of the first with a triple to center field. Heckman followed suit with an RBI-single down the right field line to grab the lead.
 
The Mavericks pulled ahead in the third off a two RBI-single from Jaden Caballero and a sacrifice fly from Sean McAdams.
 
The Raiders quickly swung the momentum back in their favor as freshman Tony Falvo launched his first collegiate home run over the left field wall to tie the game. Graduate Justin Byler and sophomore Gio Calamia each brought a runner across the plate to give SU the 5-3 lead.
 
A solo homer from Zach Ashline in the fourth brought Mercy within one but Shippensburg drove an additional two runs later on to secure the victory.
 
Graduate Noah Nabholz celebrated his Senior Day with his 16th career victory and improved to 6-4 on the season after getting the start.
 
Junior Austen LaBarre capped off his Senior Day by picking up his eighth save of the season. LaBarre ranks in the top 10 in program history in saves (12) and is top 10 in the nation this season.
 
Game 2
 
The Raiders found themselves trailing early yet again as Mercy posted four runs in the top of the second.
 
After Hinds' second triple of the day, Heckman brought him the final 90 feet to home, hitting a sacrifice fly to left center field.
 
Junior Andrew Chronister pulled SU closer with a groundout to second, allowing junior Austin Baal to score.
 
Falvo recorded his third RBI of the afternoon on a sacrifice fly, as sophomore Bryce Herb tagged up from third to pull Shippensburg within one.
 
Heading into the bottom of the ninth down 4-3, Falvo lead off the inning with a first pitch single up the middle. Hinds then moved Falvo into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt. Heckman advanced Falvo to third with a single. Byler's 60th hit of the season drove in the game tying run, as he lined a single just past a diving third baseman's glove.
 
Baal stood in box and watch four straight balls, loading the bases for Chronister with one out. On a 2-2 count, Chronister lined a single to right center to walk off the game.
 
Herb finished the game going 3-for-4 at the plate, while the lineup posted at least one hit apiece in the contest.
 
Redshirt-freshman Eric Bohenek earned win number six on the year, allowing just three hits in 5.1 scoreless innings of relief. Bohenek struck out six batters while not allowing a single walk.
 
Junior Jackson LoBianco got the start in Game 2, pitching 3.2 innings for SU.
 
The doubleheader sweep serves as two important wins for the Raiders, who are in the midst of a battle for an NCAA tournament berth.
 
Shippensburg got help in its quest for back-to-back PSAC tournament appearances. Mansfield took game 2 of its doubleheader against Bloomsburg, while Kutztown only managed one win against East Stroudsburg. In order for SU to make the conference tournament, the following must happen next weekend:
 

• Shippensburg must sweep Mansfield
• Bloomsburg must get swept by Millersville
• Kutztown needs to lose at least two games against West Chester

 
The Raiders return home on Thursday, May 4 to take on Mansfield. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m.