Eckerd Rally Sends Shippensburg to 9-6 Loss

SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. - Senior starter Ross Buckwalter (Ephrata/Ephrata) turned in another solid outing, but the Shippensburg baseball team was handed its fifth-straight defeat as Eckerd scored six runs in the final three innings for a 9-6 win.

Buckwalter hurled five innings and allowed three runs while scattering nine hits and striking out three. Shippensburg's (3-8) bullpen, which took over with the game tied at 3-3 in the sixth, used four pitchers through the sixth, seventh and eighth innings and took the loss. Sophomore Andrew Burke (Fayetteville/Chambersburg) (0-2) was shouldered with the defeat.

The Red Raider bullpen is now 0-5 on the season and the team has been outscored 19-10 in the final three innings.

Eckerd (5-6) received five innings from Jon Chapman, but he exited after Shippensburg plated three runs to take a 3-2 lead in the fifth. Eckerd reliever Brendon Elliot kept Ship off the board for two innings, but the Red Raiders struck for three more in the top of the eighth to retie the game at 6-6.

But in the bottom of the inning, Eckerd push three runs across and Shippensburg went scoreless in the top of the ninth, giving Eckerd reliever Tony Capoverdi his first win of the season.

Offensively, the Red Raiders were led by sophomore Tyler Redick (Fairfield/Walkersville (Md.)), who went 2-for-5 with a run scored. Senior Jared Boger (Lebanon/Cedar Crest) added two RBIs on a pinch hit single, and senior Jamie Mengle (Mechanicsburg/Cumberland Valley) drove in a run with a pinch hit double. Sophomore Scott Stern (Martinsburg/Central) drove in a pair of runs, as well.

Wednesday's contest kicked off the Red Raiders' spring break trip. They return to action on Fri., Mar. 9 against the defending Division II national champions and No.2-ranked Tampa. Game time for the nine-inning contest is scheduled for 7 p.m.

- Red Raider Baseball -