BEL AIR, Md. -  The Slippery Rock University baseball team battled back from a seven-run deficit, but had its comeback bid came up just short in a 9-8 season-opening loss against Shippensburg University Sunday.
 
Sunday's contest was the first of a three-game series against the Raiders (1-3) at the Harford College Baseball Field in Bel Air, Maryland.
 
Trailing 7-0 entering the sixth inning, The Rock began its comeback with a four-run frame. Joe Campagna started the rally with a two-run double followed by back-to-back RBI from Tyler Merigliano and Ray Scala to cut Shippensburg's lead down to three runs at 7-4.
 
The Raiders tacked on an additional run in the eighth inning only for The Rock to fire back with three more runs as Campagna once again drove in a pair of runs followed later in the inning by a sacrifice fly from Joe Sibeto which plated Merigliano from third base to make it an 8-7 contest heading into the ninth inning.
 
Shippensburg was able to tally another run in the top of the finial inning to stretch its advantage back out to two runs going into The Rock's final at-bats.
 
The Raiders appeared poised to close out the win in non-dramatic fashion when reliever Michael Hope retired the first two SRU batters in the bottom of the ninth. However, Campagna yet again came up huge with another double to keep hope alive. Mike Collins followed Campagna's lead with a base hit of his own to put runners on first and third with two outs and Merigliano stepping to the plate representing the go-ahead run.
 
Merigliano proceeded to deliver a hit that scored Campagna, but Collins was thrown out at home plate on the play to end the game and allow the Raiders to escape with a one-run victory.
 
Campagna finished the day an impressive 4-for-5 with three doubles, two runs scored and four RBI. Merigliano turned in a 3-for-4, one-run, two-RBI performance of as well while leadoff hitter Abraham Mow was the third Rock batter with multiplied hits, going 2-for-5 with two runs.
 
Collins, Scala, Nick Reynosa and Jon Kozarian all had hits as well. Scala also stole two bases in the season-opener. Frankie Jezioro reached base three times by way of one hit and a pair of walks.
 
Starting pitcher Chris Anastas (0-1) tossed six strikeouts over five innings. Jaret Peterson and Luke Trueman came on in relief of Anastas. Peterson threw the sixth inning and Trueman closed out the game with the first three innings pitched of his collegiate career.
 
Zack Sims (1-1) picked up the victory for Shippensburg after striking out six batters and scattering six runs over seven innings. Noah Nabholz and Hope threw the final two innings out of the Raiders' bullpen. Scout Knotts had one home run and four RBI to pace Shippensburg's offense.
 
Slippery Rock and Shippensburg will close out the series with a doubleheader on Monday. First pitch of game one is set for 11 a.m.
 



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