Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score

BLOOMSBURG, Pa. - The Bloomsburg University baseball team entered its four-game, regular season-ending series against Shippensburg knowing it needed to win three of the four games against the Raiders to clinch the fourth and final playoff spot in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division.

The Huskies, however, could not get anything going on a cold and rainy Friday at Danny Litwhiler Field and were swept by the Raiders to end any hopes of a postseason berth. Shippensburg took game one by a 7-1 final and then posted a 9-4 victory in game two to complete the sweep. Bloomsburg dropped to 23-21 overall and 10-16 in the East while Shippensburg improved to 23-25 overall and 12-14 in conference action.

Bloomsburg could muster just five hits in the opener against three Shippensburg pitchers while sophomore Mike Warren (Garnerville, N.Y./St. Joseph Regional) seemed to struggle getting comfortable on the mound in his three innings of work.

The visitors jumped in front 2-0 in the top of the first inning after the first two outs of the inning were recorded. A walk, a single, and another walk loaded the bases for the Raiders before Warren uncorked a wild pitch to get Shippensburg on the board. Then, moments later, Warren slipped on a pitch attempt which resulted in a balk and another run to cross the plate.

Sophomore Tyler Benson (Montville, N.J./Montville Township) gave the hosts life in the bottom of the first when he launched a leadoff home run, over the right centerfield fence, against Shippensburg starter Mark Curtis. It was Benson's fourth round tripper of the season. The Huskies threatened for more in the bottom half as redshirt sophomore Austin Edgette (Exton, Pa./Downingtown East) singled up the middle, stole second, and advanced to third on a single from senior Ryan Kirman (Little Silver, N.J./Red Bank Regional). But, Curtis punched out junior Damin Muth (Breinigsville, Pa./Parkland) and sophomore Shane Woelfel (Mahwah, N.J./Mahwah) to end the threat.

Those would be the only hits that Bloomsburg could get in four innings of work from Curtis, who left after running to cover first base during a putout in the fourth.

Shippensburg cashed in three more runs, all unearned, in the top of the second to take a 5-1 lead. Back-to-back singles and an error on a sacrifice bunt allowed the first run to score. A double play followed before Grant Hoover and Nick Spangler provided RBI hits to give the Raiders a four-run cushion.

The visitors added two more runs in the top of the fourth for the final runs of the contest.

Warren lasted just three innings, pitching to two batters in the fourth. He allowed seven runs (four earned) on seven hits. He walked four and struck out two. Freshman Wyatt Beakler (Jonestown, Pa./Northern Lebanon) pitched extremely well in relief allowing five hits in four scoreless innings. He walked two and struck out four.

Kirman finished with two of Bloomsburg's five hits in the opener while Benson, Edgette, and freshman Ryan Shiffer (Toms River, N.J./Toms River South) had the other hits.

Shippensburg got a run in the top of the first inning of game two against redshirt sophomore Zach Meyer (Muncy Valley, Pa./Sullivan County) to take a 1-0 lead. The Huskies tied the contest at 1-1 in the bottom of the third inning on a sacrifice fly from senior Joey Casselberry (Eagleville, Pa./Methacton) - his team-leading 52nd RBI - that plated senior Brian Almand (Haddon Township, N.J./Paul VI) who led off the inning with an infield single.

The Huskies took their first lead of the day in the bottom of the fourth when Muth crushed an offering from Shippensburg starter, Andy Crum, over the left field fence to lead off the inning. It was Muth's 10th home run of the season.

Shippensburg, however, tied it in the fifth when Jack Goertzen followed suit by leading off the inning with a solo home run over the right field fence.

With the game tied at 2-2, the roof caved in for the Huskies in the sixth. Shippensburg scored seven runs on six hits and an error to take a 9-2 lead. Five of the runs were charged to Meyer, who allowed seven runs on six hits in five and one-third innings. He walked three and struck out three. Freshman Ashton Raines (Wallingford, Pa./Strath Haven) was charged with the other two runs in the inning as he allowed two runs on five hits in an inning and two-thirds of relief. He walked one and struck out two.

The Huskies answered with two runs in the bottom of the sixth to cut the lead to 9-4. Muth led off with a single and scored when freshman Tristan Kevitch (Ardmore, Pa./Harriton) launched his third home run of the season down the left field line. Bloomsburg threatened for more, getting runners to second and third with two outs before Shippensburg reliever, Sean LeFever, struck out Edgette to end the inning.

Bloomsburg got a runner on in the seventh but left him stranded against Shippensburg reliever, Thomas Swartz.

The Huskies had seven hits in the nightcap - two by Muth.

Bloomsburg said goodbye to five seniors between games - Brian Almand (Haddon Township, N.J./Paul VI), Ryan Kirman (Little Silver, N.J./Red Bank Regional), Alex Carpenter (South Williamsport, Pa./South Williamsport), Sean McCloskey (Warminster, Pa./Archbishop Wood), and Joey Casselberry (Eagleville, Pa./Methacton) - who were playing their final home games in a Huskies' uniform. The teams will meet at Shippensburg on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. in the final doubleheader of the season for the Huskies.