SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – The Shippensburg University baseball team was undone by a big nine-run inning in a setback to the West Chester Golden Rams in the second round of the Pennsylvania State Athletic (PSAC) Tournament on a cold, rainy Thursday afternoon at Jack Critchfield Park, 10-8.
 
Shippensburg (27-20) jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first in what was a topsy-turvy contest filled with big rallies and multiple rain delays, but the Golden Rams' (41-7) nine-run frame in the top of the fourth inning turned out to be too tough to overcome.
 
The loss sends the Raiders to the elimination bracket and a meeting with IUP Friday at 10:30 a.m.
 
SU took advantage as West Chester starting pitcher Julian Costa struggled in the wet conditions to start the game.
 
The first four Raider hitters reached off the Golden Ram left-hander, and all four eventually came around to score. After a pair of walks, graduate Justin Byler laid down a bunt single to load the bases. Senior Austin Baal followed with a RBI single, and Costa unleashed a pair of wild pitches that allowed two additional runs to score. Junior Carter Arbuthnot lifted a sacrifice fly to drive in Baal and complete the rally.
 
A lengthy rain delay could not stop SU graduate Ryan Gleason as the lefty looked strong until the decisive top of the fourth.
 
The Golden Rams pieced together nine hits in the frame against Gleason and the Shippensburg bullpen. Casey Vaughan (three-run double) and Anthony Boccio (two-run single) delivered the big blows. Gleason surrendered a total of six runs (four earned) in 3.2 innings.
 
The Raider bats never stopped, however, even after surrendering the lead.
 
SU answered with three runs in the bottom half of the fourth. Freshman Ty Sherman roped an RBI double, and junior Carter Hinds and junior Gio Calamia stroked RBI singles to bring the total number of fourth inning runs to 12 and the SU deficit down to just two, 9-7.
 
The Raiders later brought the potential go ahead run to the plate with nobody out in the seventh, but WCU reliever Dylan Howanitz was able to coax a crucial double play.
 
Howanitz would go onto earn the save for reliever Nick Noga, who picked up the win after allowing just three runs in 5.2 innings out of the West Chester bullpen.
 
Byler registered a team-high three hits Shippensburg. Baal finished 2-for-4 with two RBIs, while junior Calamia went 2-for-4 with two runs scored.
 
Freshmen relief pitchers Kaleb Maksimik and Ryan Novakowski helped keep the Raiders in striking distance, combined for 5.1 innings and zero earned runs.
 
West Chester will take on East Stroudsburg with a spot in the championship game up for grabs tomorrow at 2 p.m.