FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Mansfield gets back into PSAC playoff hunt with sweep at Shippensburg

Game One Boxscore
Game Two Boxscore

SHIPPENSBURG – Kevin Miller went 5-for-9 and drove in five RBI's while fellow seniors Mike Hartz and Glen Jenkins each hit home runs as Mansfield revived its playoff hopes with a PSAC East sweep at Shippensburg Friday afternoon.

Mansfield rallied from early inning deficits in both contests, winning the opener 14-4 and the nightcap 10-4.

In the opener, Mansfield scored a run in the top of the first but Shippensburg answered back with two of its own in the bottom half on the innings on a two-run home run by Ben Miller.

Shippensburg increased the lead to 3-1 with a solo home run by Steve Sulcoski in the bottom of the second.

In the top of the third, Mansfield scored three runs on five hits including an RBI singles by Jon Moser and Levi Weiskopff and run scoring double by Glen Jenkins to take a 4-3 lead.

The Mountaineers added five more runs in the fourth with Kevin Miller delivering a RBI double with Weiskopff driving in another run with a single. Ernie Ruch drove in another run with a pinch-hit single and Jenkins drove in another run on a fielder's choice for a 9-3 lead.

Mansfield scored three times in the fifth with Dylan Woodworth tripling in a run and Jon Moser doubling in another to increase the lead to 12-3. The Mountaineers got two more runs in the top of the sixth with Shippensburg getting the game's final run in the bottom of the inning.

Joe Candelmo threw his sixth complete game of the season, scattering six hits while giving up three earned runs to improve to 5-4 on the year.

The 14 runs were the third most scored in a game this season with Kevin Miller and Jon Moser each going 3-4 and combining to drive in five runs. Levi Weiskopff went 2-5 with two RBI's in Mansfield's 13-hit offensive attack.

Nick Umberger went 4.1 innings to take the loss for Shippensburg with Steve Sulcoski and Tyler Uphouse each delivering two hits.

In the nightcap, Shippensburg jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first before Mansfield got to Shippensburg starter Shawn Patterson for six runs on four hits in the top of the second. Two of those hits were home runs – a two-run shot by Glen Jenkins early in the inning and a three-run blast by Mike Hartz with two outs – to give Mansfield a 6-1 lead.

Mansfield increased the lead to 7-1 on an RBI double by Jon Taddeo in the third but Shippensburg cut the margin to 7-3 with two runs of its own in the third. Shippensburg scored those two runs and loaded the bases with one out when Marc Baker replaced starter Eric Rosenberger on the mound and retired the next two batters on a pop up and fly out to end the rally.

Mansfield scored three more runs in the top of the fourth, two of them coming on a double by Milliman to take a 10-3 lead.

But Shippensburg refused to fold, scoring a run in the bottom of the inning and loading the bases with none out when Andy Young relieved Baker. Young got the first batter to flyout and got the next two hitters to strikeout to get Mansfield out of the jam and end the Shippensburg threat for the remainder of the game.

The game was called by the umpires because of darkness at end of the fifth inning.

Mansfield pounded out 12 hits in the game with four of them going for extra bases. Miller, Hartz, Ernie Ruch and Milliman each had two hits for the Mountaineers.
 
Baker picked up the win in relief to improve to 4-1 on the season. Young was perfect over two innings allowing no hits and striking out four.

Shawn Patterson started and took the loss for Shippensburg with Pat Kregeloh getting two of Shippensburg seven hits in the game – all of them singles.

With the sweep, Mansfield jumps back into contention for a PSAC playoff berth. The Mountaineers, who play Shippensburg in a Senior Day doubleheader at Shaute Field Saturday, are now 8-10 on the season, behind East Stroudsburg, which dropped a doubleheader to Millersville today to fall to 9-11, for the fourth and final PSAC berth.

Mansfield has make-up doubleheaders scheduled with East Stroudsburg and West Chester next Sunday and Monday (May 8-9) after its games with Shippensburg.