SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – The Shippensburg University baseball team split a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division doubleheader against No. 15 East Stroudsburg on a sunny Sunday afternoon at Fairchild Field.
 
Shippensburg (20-14, 7-7 PSAC East) graduate Jaxon Dalena quieted the East Stroudsburg (26-7, 11-3) bats for a 4-2 Raider victory in the opener, only for the Warriors to wake up to the tune of four home runs and an 11-1 triumph in the nightcap.
 
Dalena authored his second straight complete game victory against a nationally-ranked opponent, holding the Warriors to just two runs on four hits over seven frames.
 
Sophomore Mason Morris provided the SU ace with an early two-run cushion, launching a two-run second-inning homer.
 
ESU's Dennis Pierce countered with his PSAC-leading 11th longball of the season in the next half inning to bring the visitors back even.
 
As Dalena posted zeroes, SU rallied to regain the advantage in the fifth. Senior Gio Calamia cranked a one-out double to start the uprising. Junior AJ Wenrich followed with the go-ahead RBI single.
 
Sophomore Ty Sherman then singled to advance Wenrich to third with still only one out, and graduate Carter Arbuthnot drove him home with a sacrifice fly to make it a 4-2 game.
 
East Stroudsburg threatened a late comeback, putting the tying run in scoring position in the last half inning. Dalena, despite reaching the 100-pitch mark, stayed in the game and got the final two batters, the first on a lineout and next on strikes, to escape the jam.
 
Dalena finished with seven punchouts and one walk. With the outing, the SU righthander extended his conference lead in both innings pitched (57) and strikeouts (64).
 
Shippensburg finished with nine hits in Sunday's opener. Morris was 2-for-3 with 2 RBI and a run scored.
 
The nightcap was all East Stroudsburg. After plating three in the third, Warrior centerfielder Shanley Wall launched a three-run blast as part of a four-run fourth.
 
Jack Rothenhausler (twice) and Walker Zampella also went deep for the Warriors in the game.
 
The Raiders totaled just five hits in Game two. Their only run came in the fourth on a RBI double of the bat of sophomore Erby Weller.
 
The Raiders next head to ESU for the road portion of the series Monday. Game 1 of the doubleheader from ESU's Creekview Park is set for 1 p.m.