HOLLY SPRINGS, N.C. – The Slippery Rock University baseball team lost to Shippensburg University, 2-0, in a tightly-contested game to start the 2018 season Friday at Ting Park in Holly Springs, North Carolina.
 
The Rock's pitching combination of starter Alex Pantuso (0-1) and reliever Shawn Holman both had great performances to start their seasons. The duo combined to scatter nine hits, two walks and one run, only one of which was earned.
 
Pantuso pitched five innings, giving up just one unearned run on four hits while striking out eight batters and surrendering no walks. The eight strikeouts are tied for the most by a Rock pitcher on opening day dating back to the 2009 season; Lou Trivino also had eight strikeouts in SRU's 2012 opener.
 
Holman came on for Pantuso in the sixth inning and held the Raiders to just one run over three innings. Holman has now allowed one run or less in five of his eight career relief appearances at The Rock.
 
However, Slippery Rock's offense was unable to find its stride in its first live outdoor action of the season. SRU was 0-for-12 with runners on base. Tyler Merigliano and Mitchell Wood recorded The Rock's only hits on the day. Christian Porterfield drew two walks with Kyle Wise, Tyler Walters and Wood all walking once apiece as well.
 
With the game tied at 0-0 and one out in the bottom of the fifth inning, Tommy Baggett struck a triple to right-center and proceeded to score on a Rock throwing error to give Shippensburg (2-2) a 1-0 lead. The Raiders added an additional insurance run in the sixth when Cash Gladfelter tallied an RBI-single that plated Nick Spangler, who doubled to lead off the inning, before Holman was able to get out of the inning.
 
Slippery Rock was able to produce just one baserunner over the final three innings, a Wood walk in the seventh, as Shippensburg relievers Noah Inch and Mike Hope shutdown SRU's comeback hopes and preserved the 2-0 shutout victory for the Raiders.
 
2017 All-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Eastern Division pitcher Gabe Mosser (1-1) went six innings for Shippensburg before giving way to the Raiders' bullpen. Mosser tossed four strikeouts while navigating around four walks and two hits in the win.
 
Slippery Rock returns to competition Saturday with a doubleheader against West Liberty University. First pitch of game one from Ting Park is scheduled for 2:30 p.m.
 
 
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