SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – The No. 30 Shippensburg University baseball team had four different relievers combine to allow just one earned run over six innings in a closely contested loss to No. 25 Seton Hill in a nine-inning nonconference matchup Tuesday at Fairchild Field, 4-3.
 
Trailing by a single run in the ninth, Shippensburg (13-6) put runners on the corners with less than two outs against Seton Hill closer Christian Zilli but could not push the tying run across. Junior AJ Wenrich went 2-for-4 with a solo home run.
 
The Seton Hill (13-3) bullpen fared even better, as four Griffin pitchers did not allow a run in the final 6.2 innings.
 
Freshman Evan Shoffler began the ninth with a lead off single. After a sac bunt from senior Carter Hinds, senior Gio Calamia poked a sharp single to right to put runners on the corners.
 
Zilli proceeded to retire SU's No. 3 and No. 4 hitters on strikes to nail down the save and the Seton Hill victory.
 
Left-hander Peter Janoski, who delivered 1.2 innings in relief of Griffin starter Mark Wechtenhiser, was awarded the victory. Right-handers Zach Herb and Evan Rossi also posted scoreless outings in relief.
 
Freshman Jacob Dennis made his first career start on the mound for the Raiders and was charged with three earned runs on three hits in three innings of work. He finished with two strikeouts and four walks.
 
Freshman Thomas Davenport allowed an earned run in the fourth before settling in and recording two additional scoreless frames. Sophomore Conner Barto, junior Jack Robinson and junior Brenden Anderson each posted zeroes in an inning of relief.
 
SU led 1-0 after one on an RBI single from sophomore Ty Sherman, and tied the game at 3-3 following a two-run bottom of the third. Wenrich connected on a solo shot in the frame, and junior Mike Heckman added an RBI double.
 
Singles by Colin Ahr and Joe Fiedor off Davenport in the fourth resulted in what would turn out to be the game-winning run.
 
Calamia, Wenrich, Sherman and Shoffler each finished with two hits.
 
Max Mandler stroked a two-run double for the Griffins, while Joe Fiedor went 2-for-3 with two RBI.
 
Next up, Shippensburg opens Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division play with a road doubleheader Friday against Bloomsburg. Game 1 start time is slated for 1 p.m.