FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Mountie Bats Come Alive in Sweep over Shippensburg
 
MANSFIELD – Jerry Chavarria and Scott Rockwell each went yard as Mansfield pounded out 21 hits for 19 runs in a PSAC East sweep over Shippensburg on Saturday afternoon at Shaute Field.
 
Mansfield (13-15, 3-9 PSAC East) cruised past the Raiders 13-2 in the opener before using a four-run sixth inning to win game two 6-2. The Mountaineers split the four-game series after dropping a pair at Shippensburg on Friday.
 
The Mountaineers opened the scoring in the bottom of the second with Tanner Klein and Wes Custer scoring on an error before Taylor Hillson drove in Zach Merkle to give the Mounties a 3-0 lead. Shippensburg (14-17, 5-7 PSAC East) got two runs back in the third, but Klein drove in a pair of Mansfield runs in the bottom of the frame to keep the lead at three runs.
 
Mansfield opened the bottom of the fourth with seven straight hits capped by Chavarria's three-run homer to right center. Hillson drove in another run later in the inning as Mansfield hung eight runs on the board and jumped out to a 13-2 lead.
 
Alec Covel earned his third win on the season, scattering five hits and allowing just one earned run while striking out eight batters. Jeremy Worlinsky closed the door on Ship, pitching the final inning with no hits.
 
Gabe Mosser was chased after two innings and took the loss.
 
Hillson went 4-5 at the plate with two RBIs and a run scored while Klein belted out three doubles and drove in four runs.
 
In game two, Mansfield was first to get on the board again with Hillson's sacrifice fly to plate Merkle in the second inning. Shippensburg scored the equalizer in the third to tie the game at 1-1.
 
The Raiders plated the go-ahead run in the top of the fourth, but a Ryan Paige sac fly retied the score at two runs each.
 
In the sixth inning, pinch runner Spencer Zuraski crossed home on a Hillson double to take the lead before Scott Rockwell drove a two-run homer to center field. Another Klein double in the gap scored Michael Jankowski and capped a four-run inning to put Mansfield on top 6-2.
 
Brandon Garrett went the distance for his first win of the year, allowing five hits and two earned runs while fanning five batters.
 
Hillson, Custer and Klein each notched a pair of hits in the game.
 
Mansfield travels to Slippery Rock on Tuesday for a PSAC crossover doubleheader.