Complete Box Score

BUTLER, Pa. – Things just got a little more difficult if the Lakers are to repeat as PSAC Champions.

Shippensburg handed Mercyhurst a 7-3 setback in the Thursday evening game from Pullman Park in Butler, Pa., scoring at least a run in four consecutive innings from the fourth through the seventh to put away the Lakers. Mercyhurst dropped to 36-14 on the season with the loss and will now have to win out to repeat as champions.

The Red Raiders got on the board first with a run in the top of the first inning off of Mercyhurst starter Eric Aschley. A one-out walk to the Red Raiders' Eric Herman proved costly. After advancing to second on a groundout by Cody Kulp, Simon Beloff singled to right field and Herman slid across the plate just ahead of the throw from Laker rightfielder Andrew Fitzpatrick for a 1-0 lead.

Freshman Kolin McMillen led off the bottom of the first inning with a single to center field and advanced to second after Kulp misplayed the ball in center. Sophomore Anthony Tomasone sacrificed McMillen over to third and PSAC West Player of the Year Shane Latshaw then reached on an infield single. McMillen, who did not break on the grounder, scored when the throw from third got away from the first baseman, tying the game at 1-1. Latshaw, who advanced all the way to third on the error, then scored on an RBI single by senior Ethan Santora for a 2-1 Laker lead.

Shippensburg would tie the game at 2-2 in the top of the fourth inning, starting a string of four consecutive innings that the Red Raiders would plate at least one run. Kulp led off the inning with an infield single and then stole second as Beloff struck out on a pitch in the dirt. A weak grounder to third advanced Kulp to third base with two outs. Aschley then appeared to have struck out catcher Tyler Shover, which would have ended the inning. However, it was ruled that Shover did not go around on a check swing appeal and eventually, drew a two-out walk. Designated hitter Jimmy Miller then hit a flare to left field that dropped in, tying the game at 2-2.

The Red Raiders would retake a one-run lead in the top of the fifth inning on a sacrifice fly to right center field by Kulp.

Mercyhurst would come right back in the bottom of the fifth inning to knot the game at 3-3. McMillen singled on a sharp grounder between third base and shortstop and then would score on an RBI double down the left field line by Latshaw.

But, Shippensburg would score again in the sixth inning to take a 4-3 lead and then would add three more in the seventh, all off of Aschley, to take a commanding 7-3 advantage. In the sixth, a weak chopper down the third base line by Miller kept the inning alive with two outs. He would score on an RBI double by Tyler Basso.

Things unraveled in the seventh inning for Aschley and the Lakers. Shippensburg loaded the bases on a hit batter and two infield singles with one out. Aschley then balked in the first run of the inning, giving the Red Raiders a 5-3 lead. Two batters later, Pat Kregeloh laced a single up the middle driving home a pair for the 7-3 lead.

Aschley dropped to 6-4 on the season after allowing seven earned runs on 12 hits in seven innings. He walked two and struck out three. Junior Matthew Jimenez came on in relief and kept the Red Raiders at bay, allowing two hits in two innings. He walked one and struck out three.

Shippensburg's Nick Umberger went the distance to improve to 9-2 on the season. He allowed three runs (two earned) on eight hits. He did not walk a batter and struck out eight.

McMillen had three of Mercyhurst eight hits on the evening. Latshaw and Santora each had two hits apiece in a losing effort.

If the Lakers are to repeat as PSAC Champions, they will have to win the rest of the way in the double elimination tournament. Mercyhurst will play Millersville at 12:30 p.m. on Friday afternoon from Pullman Park in Butler, Pa. If the Lakers win the game, Mercyhurst will play again at 6:30 p.m. on Friday evening against Kutztown. You can follow all of the action at PSAC Baseball Tournament Central.