SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – The Shippensburg University baseball team was eliminated from the Pennsylvania State Athletic (PSAC) Tournament after dropping a closely contested battle against IUP Friday morning at Jack Critchfield Park, 3-2.
 
Shippensburg (27-21) pitching trio J.T. Weaver, freshman Conner Barto and senior Ethan Miller combined to hold the potent IUP (33-14) batting order to just three runs, but the SU offense was unable to get the big hit when needed to pull out the victory.
 
IUP (33-14) recorded two clutch two-out hits with runners in scoring position to zero for the Raiders.
 
Weaver pitching around five walks and five hits, holding the Crimson Hawks to three runs and recording three punchouts. Barto (1 IP, 2 H, 0 R) and Miller (1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R) were outstanding out of the Shippensburg bullpen.
 
IUP starter Jake Black earned a no decision, holding the Raiders to five hits and two runs over five innings. Derrick Shields picked up the win for the Crimson Hawks after allowing one hit over four scoreless innings of relief.
 
The Raiders had a golden opportunity in the first, loading the bases against Black with nobody out. Senior Austin Baal lifted a sacrifice fly to give SU the lead, but Black was able to get the next two batters to limit the damage.
 
Harrison Pontoli, the Crimson Hawks leadoff hitter, evened the scored with a solo home run in the bottom half of the frame.
 
Weaver was able to settle in following the leadoff homer, retiring the side in order in the next two frames.
 
The Raiders loaded the bases again in the fourth, this time with one out. Freshman Brady Harbach skied a sac fly to put Shippensburg back in front, 2-1.
 
Robert Carfagno delivered a clutch two-out RBI knock erase the SU lead a half inning later. IUP's Davin Landers then poked a two-out single in the bottom of the sixth to drive in the game-winning run.
 
Shields sat down the Raiders in order in each of the Raiders' final three turns.
 
Junior Gio Calamia reached base three times, finishing 2-for-3 with a walk. Senior Andrew Chronister, junior Carter Arbuthnot, junior Carter Hinds and Harbach rounded out the Raiders' six hits.
 
Brady Yard and Davin Landers had two hits apiece for the Crimson Hawks.
 
The Raiders acquainted themselves well at the 2024 PSAC Tournament, knocking out defending champions Seton Hill in the first game and posting a close 15-to-16 (-1) run differential over three games against the conference's top clubs.
 
The NCAA Division II Baseball Selection Show is Sunday night at 10 p.m.