SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – Zach Spray hit a grand slam to highlight the Mansfield Mountaineer baseball team in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division contest against Shippensburg University, but the Mounties dug an early hole they couldn't get out of and fell 11-5 on the road on Thursday, May 4.
 
The Mounties fall to 13-30 overall and 4-18 in the PSAC East while the Raiders improve to 25-22 overall and 10-12 in conference.
 
Spray, who has been on a home run tear as of late, belted his fifth home run of the season to lead the Mounties with four RBIs. Marcus Nales drove in the other Mountaineer run, while Zachary Shertzer picked up two hits including a double.
 
The Raiders scored four runs in the bottom of the first and a solo run in the second to jump out to an early 4-0 lead.
 
The Raiders matched that effort in the fourth and fifth inning to extend their lead to 10-0 through five innings and ultimately put the game out of reach.
 
The Mounties bright spot came in the top of the sixth inning, when they put up a four spot on two hits, including the grand slam by Spray, to cut the deficit to 10-4.
 
However, Shippensburg added an insurance run in the bottom of the seventh and the early advantage proved to be too much.
 
The Mounties scored their final run in the top of the eighth when Shertzer came around to score on a sacrifice fly by Nales, after doubling earlier in the inning.
 
Ryan King was dealt the loss for Mansfield, allowing five runs on six hits in two innings of work. Justin Marykwas struck out a team-high two hitters in two innings out of relief.
 
 The Raiders, who outhit the Mounties 19-5, were led by Austin Baal and Bryce Herb, who drove in three runs each. Noah Nabholz earned the victory for Shippensburg, allowing four runs on three hits, adding three strikeouts.
 
NEXT UP
The Mounties host Shippensburg tomorrow for a noon PSAC East doubleheader at Joseph Shaute Field.