MANSFIELD – A big seventh inning by Shippensburg dashed the hopes of a late Mansfield rally as the Mounties fell 18-6 in a nine-inning PSAC East bout on Friday at Shaute Field. 

Samuel Freedman went 3-for-3 with a run and an RBI while Zachary Shertzer was 3-for-4 with an RBI to lead Mansfield (20-20, 11-8 PSAC East) offensively. 

The loss puts the Mounties just one spot out of the playoff race, tied with East Stroudsburg with an 11-8 divisional mark. West Chester, Millersville, and Shippensburg are tied for the top spot with 13-6 conference records. Bloomsburg currently occupies the fourth and final playoff spot in the East with 11 wins, eight losses, and a tie. 

Justin Darden put Shippensburg (23-20, 13-6 PSAC East) up early with a two-run homer in the top of the first. Mansfield squared the game at 2-2 with a run scored in each the second and third innings. Shertzer drove in the first run with an RBI single to right field to score Freedman in the second before Assaf Lowengart plated Britain Shander in the second. 

The Raiders leapt out to a 9-2 lead with seven runs over the next three innings. However, the Mounties would not go away quietly, putting up four runs in the bottom of the seventh the cut their deficit to 9-6. Back-to-back doubles by Shander and Josh Farina each brought in a run before Farina eventually scored on a wild pitch. Freedman's RBI double capped the scoring and brought Mansfield within three runs. 

In the top of the eighth, a close play that could have ended the inning with a double play did not go in the Mounties' favor. Spurred by the opportunity, Shippensburg hung seven runs in the frame, all with two outs. The Raiders added two more runs in the ninth. 
The Raiders' Nick Zenga moved to 7-3 after pitching 6.2 innings with seven strikeouts. Eric Gustofson took the loss. 

Joe Barbera went 4-for-5 at the plate with two runs and an RBI while Andrew Chronister scored four runs. 

Mansfield travels to Shippensburg on Saturday to complete the series with a doubleheader.