Red Raiders and Cal Split Doubleheader, Remain Tied Atop PSAC West

Apr. 14, 2007

Game One | Game Two

SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. - Shippensburg and California (Pa.) entered the four-game weekend series tied for first in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division, and after a pair of doubleheaders, the two squads remain knotted atop the standings. The teams split at Cal on Friday, and at Fairchild Field Saturday, Cal took game one, 5-2, but Ship responded with a 7-2 win in the nightcap.

California (22-11, 8-4 PSAC West) took control of first place early in the afternoon after Chris Doerschner threw seven innings and allowed two runs on four hits and struck out seven. Cal scored three off Ship's (18-15, 8-4 PSAC West) senior starter Nate Jones (Lititz/Warwick) (2-2) before he was forced to leave the game in the top of the second because of an injury.

Senior Brian Boylan (Tannersville/Pocono Mountain) came on and surrendered two runs, one of which was earned, through the final 5.1 innings. But Ship's offense could manage to score just once in the first on an RBI single from junior Justin Garber (Elizbethtown/Elizabethtown) and once more in the seventh on senior Jamie Mengle's (Mechanicsburg/Cumberland Valley) solo homer.

The Red Raiders evened the series in the nightcap thanks to some timely hitting and a strong effort from sophomore starter Andrew Burke (Fayetteville/Chambersburg).

Burke (3-3) went the distance and allowed no earned runs on three hits. Cal's two runs came courtesy of a Ship throwing error with two outs in the top of the first. Shippensburg also took full advantage of four Vulcan errors.

Trailing 2-0 early, the Red Raiders picked up a run in the bottom of the first when Garber singled home sophomore Tyler Redick (Fairfield/Walkersville (Md.)), who led off the inning with a single and advanced to second on a failed pickoff attempt.

Senior Eric Perlozzo (Cumberland, Md./Bishop Walsh) singled in a pair of runs in the second, and senior Brandon White (State College/State College) added an RBI single in the third to boost the lead to 4-2.

The Red Raiders piled on three more runs in the fifth. Ship's only hit of the inning was a two-run double off the bat of sophomore Jason Kelly (Harrisburg/Central Dauphin).

Shippensburg travels to Shepherdstown, W. Va. on Monday for a nine inning contest against Shepherd. Game time is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.

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