Chronister’s walk off single compeletes three-game sweep of Salem Tigers

Shippensburg’s baseball team won a trio of games this past weekend in West Virginia, earning a sweep of the Salem Tigers to move their record to 4-2. Pitching was impressive throughout, giving up six runs total across the three games.

The series began with a doubleheader on Friday, featuring a pair of seven-inning contests. The Raiders scored a comeback victory in Game 1, winning 4-2. Shippensburg was led by a quality start from graduate Noah Nabholz, who went six solid innings, the only blemish being a two-run homer hit by Salem in the first inning.

Offensively, sophomore Gio Calamia led the way going one for four with a pair of RBIs. Freshman Mike Heckman provided the go-ahead run on an RBI groundout in the sixth, also picking up a hit and a walk in the game.

The second game Friday ended in extra innings, but Shippensburg’s bats came to life in the eighth, scoring seven runs on their way to a 10-3 win. It was an entertaining contest throughout, as the Raiders took a 3-2 lead in the third inning, before Salem tied it up in the fifth before going to extras.

Sophomore Jaxon Dalena hit his first home run as a Raider to lead off the third, which was followed up by an RBI triple from Calamia and an RBI single from junior Joe Barbera. The Raiders then loaded the bases in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings, coming away scoreless all three times before unloading for seven runs in the eighth.

Redshirt freshman Eric Bohenek went 4.1 innings of three-run ball, but freshman J.T. Weaver was incredible in relief, pitching 3.2 hitless innings to pick up the win, walking one and striking out six.

Saturday’s game also went to extra inningss and was a pitcher’s duel throughout, with the Raiders earning a 2-1 victory in 10 innings.

Junior Ethan Miller had a very solid start on the mound, going six innings and allowing one run on three hits. Junior Gabe Stotler got the win after pitching three scoreless innings in relief, with junior Austen Labarre getting his second save of the series.

Junior Austin Baal hit a solo homer in the fourth inning for his third of the season to knot the game up at one. The game would remain tied until the 10th, when junior Andrew Chronister hit the go-ahead RBI single to put the Raiders in front for good.

Shippensburg baseball has its first home series of the season this weekend, hosting Gannon for a three-game set. Saturday is a doubleheader starting at noon, with a standalone game Sunday also at noon.