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BASEBALL: Big momentum shift propels Chambersburg over Shippensburg


SHIPPENSBURG >> Trailing 2-1 in the bottom of the sixth inning, Shippensburg's baseball team had the bases loaded with no outs and were poised to make a comeback.

But starting pitcher Drew Betz and Chambersburg got out of the jam unscathed, and the Trojans put up four runs in the top of the seventh inning to run away with a 6-1 non-league win.

"That sixth inning was a huge momentum shift," said Betz, who tossed a one-hitter in his first start of the season. "I think we went out in the seventh inning with some fire under us because of it."

Daulton Brenize and Cordell Shannon walked to lead off the sixth for the Greyhounds (6-3), and the next batter, Nate Reiner, squared up and dropped down a sacrifice bunt. Betz fielded the bunt and fired to third, and the throw appeared to beat the runner to the base, but Brenize was called safe, loading the bases.

Chambersburg coach Bob Thomas went out and argued the call for several minutes, to no avail, but the Trojans (6-5) found a way out. Betz got the next batter to pop into an infield fly, and the following batter hit a bouncer back to the mound for a 1-2-3 double play.

"It definitely takes some steam out of you," Greyhound coach Nathan Rosenberry said. "With the bases loaded and no outs, you expect to get a run or two. It was very deflating, but that's the way it goes."

Chambersburg then used an error to put the game away in the seventh. Manning Brookens, who finished 2-for-3 and scored twice, lined a single to centerfield to start the inning and moved to second on a Carlin Christian fielder's choice. Matt Stonesifer followed with a single that scored Brookens, but he was thrown out trying to go to second.

With two outs, Drew Betz reached on an error by the shortstop, and Tristan Daywalt took advantage with triple deep to rightfield to score Betz. After Hunter Brindle was hit by a pitch, Austin Suders ripped a double to deep leftfield to score two and give Chambersburg a 6-1 cushion.

Daywalt, who finished 2-for-3 with an RBI, said, "We came in knowing we needed some cushion, so when we got two outs, we just did what was needed and the hitting came alive."

Betz kept Shippensburg off balance all day, giving up just one hit, a double to Shannon in the first inning, and striking out five with four walks. The Hounds scored their lone run when Brenize came home on a passed ball in the first inning.

"I really felt like I was having trouble out there at times," Betz said. "The zone was a little small, but the defense (two double plays) was great behind me."

Thomas said, "Drew had been coming out of the bullpen all season, but with the way we've been hitting, I figured he was our best chance to win today. He did well."

Noah Auman started on the mound for the Greyhounds, giving up five runs – three earned – in 6 2/3 innings, with one strikeout. He also walked three and hit two.

"I had some good innings, but I also struggled in others," Auman said.

Rosenberry said, "Noah certainly pitched well enough to win, but we didn't play great defense behind him (three errors) and we didn't hit."

NOTES >> The Trojans used a hit by pitch and three straight singles to plate two runs in the second ... Hayden Kissel was hit to start the inning, and Bryce Fiegl, Brookens and Christian all followed with singles to give Chambersburg a 2-1 lead ... Chambersburg had another long dispute with the umpires in the third inning when Daywalt appeared to hit a double down the first-base line ... The base ump called the ball fair, and Daywalt went all the way to second, but the home-plate umpire called it foul.

Chambersburg 6, Shippensburg 1

ChambersburgShippensburgabrhbabrhbChristan ss4011Friese2000Stonesfr cf3011Brenize cf1100Betz p3100Shannn 1b2010Daywalt rf3121Reiner ss1000Brindle 1b2100Jacoby 3b3000Suders dh4012Swartz lf3000CBrokens c0000Frick dh3000Kissel 2b3110Auman p0000Fiegl 3b3010Wtkns 2b2000MBrokns lf3221Hershey rf3000Totals28696Totals20110
Chambersburg0200004—6Shippensburg1000000—1

E: Chbg 1, Ship 3; DP: Chbg 2; LOB: Chbg 7, Ship 7; 2B: Shannon, Suders; 3B: Daywalt; SAC: Reiner, Watkins; SB: Christian, M.Brookens, Brenize.

Chambersburg pitching

Shippensburg pitching

Auman (L, 1-1) 6.285331Kitzmiller.111000

PB: C.Brookens; HBP: By Betz (Reiner), by Auman (Kissel, Brindle), by Kitzmiller (Brindle)

T: 2:01.

JV: Chambersburg 7, Shippensburg 6. For the Trojans, Colby Rosenberry was 2-for-4 with 2 RBIs, Josh Carlin had a double and 2 RBIs and Chance McClure and Brenton Byers each had 2 hits in 3 trips. Spencer Seaman was credited with the win.