Five-Run Eighth Leads Baseball to Victory at Wingate

WINGATE, N.C. - Highlighted by a three-run triple from sophomore Scott Goss (Johnstown, Pa./Westmont Hilltop) in the top of the eighth inning, the Shippensburg University baseball team held off Wingate University en route to a 6-5 victory on Sunday afternoon at Christopher Stadium.
 
The 12th-ranked Red Raiders (6-2), who won three of four games against the Bulldogs this weekend, have now won three-straight. Three of the four games this weekend were decided by only one run.
 
After taking a 6-1 lead into the bottom on the ninth inning, Shippensburg survived a late rally by Wingate (3-11) after the Bulldogs scored four runs when sophomore Bryan Boylan (Tannersville, Pa./Pocono Mountain) retired three of the four batters he faced, entering the game in relief of senior Drew Kyle (Hanover, Pa./Southwestern).
 
Gossπ three RBI for the Red Raiders came after singles by junior Tyler Wise (Bedford, Pa./Bedford) and sophomore Jamie Mengle (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Cumberland Valley) and a walk from sophomore Jared Boger (Lebanon, Pa./Cedar Crest) loaded the bases with no outs.
 
Sophomore Brandon White (State College, Pa./State College) then scored Goss with a pinch-hit single to right to score the final run for Shippensburg.
 
In the bottom of ninth, Wingate loaded the bases with no outs against Kyle after Jon Svanda was hit by a pitch, Tim Bowman double to left and Keith Benton walked. After the Bulldogs scored three runs on a single, passed ball and hit batsman, Boylan recorded the first out of the inning with a strikeout of Shaughn Neal.
 
Ian Martin followed with a sacrifice fly to right for Wingate, scoring the fourth run that cut the Red Raiders lead to one, 6-5, but Boylan closed the door when he got Kirk Matthews to ground into a game-ending fielder's choice to pick up his second save.
 
Shippensburg sophomore Frank D'Agostino (Pine Grove, Pa./Pine Grove) picked up his second victory, scattering seven hits in eight innings of work while allowing only one earned run. He also struck out four and walked two. Sophomore Matt Trent took the loss in relief for the Bulldogs, allowing three earned runs in one and a two-thirds innings.
 
Wise, Mengle and junior Nick Erdman (Leola, Pa./Conestoga Valley) each had two hits for Shippensburg while Goss went 1-for-3 with three RBI.
 
The Red Raiders will travel to Philippi, W. Va., next weekend for a four-game series with Alderson-Broaddus College. First pitch for Saturday's doubleheader is at 1:00 p.m.

- Red Raider Baseball -