Kelly's RBI Single Lifts Red Raiders to 4-3 Extra-Inning Win Over St. Leo

ST. LEO, Fla. - With the score tied at 3-3 in the top of the 11th inning, Shippensburg baseball sophomore Jason Kelly (Harrisburg/Central Dauphin) singled to left field, plating the eventual game-winning run in a 4-3 victory at St. Leo Monday evening.

With the victory, Shippensburg (5-10) closed their Florida trip with two-straight victories. Monday's game was also Ship's sixth game decided by one run this season. St. Leo falls to 14-9 with the defeat.

Red Raider senior starter Ross Buckwalter (Ephrata/Ephrata) was brilliant, throwing a career-high nine innings and allowing just three runs while fanning eight batters and walking just one. Despite his efforts, he did not receive a decision, but the Ship bullpen, which had been much maligned early in the season, earned its‚ first victory in six decisions this season.

Shippensburg was kept off the board until the top of the fifth inning when sophomore Scott Stern (Martinsburg/Central) picked up an RBI and reached first on an error. Senior Scott Goss (Johnstown/Westmont Hilltop) crossed home for his first of two runs scored on the afternoon, giving the Red Raiders a 1-0 edge. Sophomore Timothy Freshour (Johnstown/Richland) followed with a sacrifice fly, boosting the lead to 2-0.

St. Leo answered in the bottom of the frame with three runs on four hits that included a solo homer.

In the seventh, senior Jamie Mengle (Mechanicsburg/Cumberland Valley) retied the game with his second homer of the season.

Buckwalter dug in and held St. Leo to just one hit his final three innings of work. Sophomore Andrew Burke (Fayetteville/Chambersburg) entered in the 10th and escaped without trouble, and handed the ball to junior Kyle Warner (Berrysburg/Upper Dauphin) (1-1) in the 11th, who promptly struck out two of the three batters he faced to earn his first win of the season.

At the plate, the Red Raiders were led by Kelly's two hits, RBI and run. Goss also went 1-for-3 with two runs and two walks. Senior Eric Perlozzo (Cumberland, Md./Bishop Walsh) also chipped in two hits.

The Red Raiders make their 2007 Fairchild Field debut on Sunday, Mar. 18 with a nine-inning game against Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference foe Bloomsburg. Game time is scheduled for 2 p.m.

- Red Raider Baseball -