LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – Sophomore Blake Barbini’s (Pittston, Pa./Pittston Area) walk-off double drove home the game-tying and game-winning runs, giving the Lock Haven University baseball team (7-11, 2-6 PSAC West) a split against Shippensburg University (17-19, 3-5 PSAC West) 6-1 and 3-2 today (April 9) at Foundation Field. Barbini also got the win on the mound in game two, improving to 3-1 on the year.

LHU broke the scoreless tie in the second inning of game one, as the Shippensburg starter Nathan Starner walked home a run. The Red Raiders would knot the score with a solo home run in the fourth.

Three Bald Eagle errors amounted to a five-run sixth for the Red Raiders, putting game one out of reach. Bald Eagle starter Patrick Young (Allensville, Pa./Indian Valley) was the hard-luck loser, giving up just one earned run in six innings to fall to 0-4. Starner (4-3) picked up the win for Shippensburg in six innings of his own.

Game two came down to the final at-bat, as the Bald Eagles made the most of their chances throughout the game.

After a Shippensburg run in the top of the third, LHU answered with an RBI double by Barbini, plating senior shortstop Brett Kelley (Williamsport, Pa./Williamsport), who reached on a single. The Red Raiders got back out in front with an RBI triple in the fifth.

At the plate with one out and the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh, Barbini delivered once again taking the first pitch to left center for a double, bringing home Kelley and junior second baseman Kurt Elbin (Bedford, Pa./Delgado C.C.) for the win.

Barbini went all seven innings for LHU, allowing two runs and fanning three, while Ship starter Nick Erdman (3-4) went 6.1 innings in the loss.