Cal retired the side in order in the ninth to seal the deal in a 6-2 win over the Red Raiders.  Prior to the sixth inning, Shippensburg looked to be in cruise control.  It's a tough loss, but SU will have the night to shake it off.  Look for a complete wrap-up of today's game at www.shipraiders.com.

If the tournament stays on schedule, the Red Raiders will have breakfast at the ballpark tomorrow morning with a 9:30 start against the loser of today's second game.  West Chester v. Lock Haven is that second game, and they will duke it out shortly.

RED RAIDERS CAN'T GET A BREAK (3:38 PM)
By: Ryan Houck, Sports Information Student Assistant

Despite loading the bases in the top of the eighth, Shippensburg lacked timely hitting as Sean Killian popped out to second base.  Cal starter Nick Scheriber can breathe a sigh of relief.  His final line is seven plus innings of work with 7 hits, 2 runs (both unearned), 2 walks and 3 strike outs.

Kody Kibler entered the game in relief of Ted Williams.  Top of the ninth, final chance for the Red Raiders… 6-2 Cal out in front.

CAL'S PITCHER SWAP (3:26 PM)
By: Ryan Houck, Sports Information Student Assistant

After surrendering a single to Kasey Kuhns, Cal's Nick Scheriber is off to the showers.  He was been replaced by Sean Welsh.  Scheriber's final line is in limbo, as he's responsible for runners on first and third.  An update is forthcoming.

NEW PITCHER IN THE SEVENTH (3:13 PM)
By: Ryan Houck, Sports Information Student Assistant 

Shippensburg has replaced Freshour with freshman Ted Williams in the bottom of the seventh.  The final line on Freshour is 6 innings, 3 hits, 5 earned runs, 5 walks and 8 strike outs.

SIXTH INNING HEADACHE (3:03 PM)
By: Ryan Houck, Sports Information Student Assistant

Freshour is human after all.  After loading the bases in the sixth with only one out, Cal’s Mike Schmidt jumped on a pitch and sent it to left-center.  It’s 409 feet to that part of the park, and Schmidt’s drive was in the 408 range.  Cal cycled around all three runners on base to score and Schmidt stopped at second with a stand-up double.  Prior to the Schmidt double, Cal tied the game up on an infield single by Shayne Busti.  Freshour fielded the hit but stumbled, never making a throw.  Four walks in the inning didn’t help the cause either.  Despite two strike outs to end the inning, Shippensburg is in a hole, 5-2 at the top of the seventh.

GIVE CREDIT TO MIKE SCHMIDT (2:45 PM)
By: Bill Morgal, Interim SID

Well, maybe not the Mike Schmidt most Phillies fans are familiar with, but the California first baseman Mike Schmidt has made at least three plays in this game where he's moved away from the bag to catch a wide throw and yet still tag the runner out. Shippensburg got two runners on base in the top of the sixth inning but couldn't creep anyone else across the plate. The Vulcans just put their leadoff batter on base in the bottom of the sixth inning, but Shippensburg still leads by a 2-1 score.

VULCANS OUT OF A JAM; FRESHOUR ON FIRE (2:35 PM)
By: Ryan Houck, Sports Information Student Assistant

With runners on first and second, Cal pitcher Nick Schreiber was able to get Steve McCardell to fly out down the right field line.  Prior to the fly out, SU’s Kyle Rhoades drove a single into left field and then stole second moments later.  Tyler Redick walked, but the two ended up stranded.

Meanwhile Tim Freshour is on a tear on the mound.  He just retired the side in the bottom of the fifth in order.  His six strikeouts are giving the Red Raiders a chance for the win.

ONE COSTLY ERROR (2:13 PM)
By: Ryan Houck, Sports Information Student Assistant

Cody Kulp reached after being hit by a pitch and Kasey Kuhns reached on an error by Cal third baseman Kyle Bowser to start the fourth.  That error was costly when Ben Miller ripped a double down the left field line that hit off the wall.  Both Kulp and Kuhns cycled around to score.  Kuhns likely could have been held at third, but Cal left fielder Troy Handza slipped while playing the carom off the wall.  Ship leads 2-1 after four and a half.

A LACK OF SLUGGING (2:05 PM)

By: Bill Morgal, Interim SID

We've had a grand total of five balls go past the infield through the first three innings. Tim Freshour looks like he's settling into a groove, striking out two batters in the bottom of the third. Each team is working to try and string some sort of an inning together but things haven't gone according to plans yet for either squad at the plate. It's curious to factor how much the delayed start and the off-kilter developments of this morning are playing into things. Tyler Redick is set to lead off the top of the fourth for Shippensburg - and he tries a drag bunt. Each team has been going to town with trying the bunts for base hits. Cal leads 1-0, top four.

RADAR GUNS AND A FEW SETS OF WHEELS (1:46 PM)
By: Ryan Houck, Sports Information Student Assistant

After one inning, a few things are apparent here at “The Clip”.  Behind home plate sits several major league scouts armed with radar guns, eyeing potential diamonds in the rough here at the Division II level.  The MLB draft is set for June 9-10 and several Red Raiders could be in the mix.

Also, Cal isn’t afraid to steal bases.  Right fielder Sam DiMatteo walked in the bottom of the first inning and stole both second and third and was singled in by center fielder Jon Selby.  Cal sports the top three base stealers in the PSAC in DiMatteo, Selby and left fielder Troy Handza.  Combined, the three have 91 stolen bases entering today.

Waiting in the Red Raider bullpen for the bottom half of the inning is Tim Freshour, SU’s ace. Freshour sits at 7-5 with a 4.27 earned run average coming into today’s contest. The southpaw hasn’t seen action since April 24, where he tossed a complete game but ended up losing 3-0 to West Chester.

WAITING IT OUT (10:55 AM)
By: Bill Morgal, Interim SID

Welcome everyone to the live blog. Due to the late start time we have had to abandon our radio broadcast because we only had coverage at the radio station until 1:30 p.m. Thus, myself and my student intern Ryan Houck will be providing live updates and scores throughout the game at www.shipraiders.com. Unfortunately, there's nothing more we can to until we get closer to 1 p.m. - the lineups are available for the game at the live stats feed here.

The teams arrived at 7:30 a.m. and were warming up the entire time as field attendants worked on the infield. A lot of discussion was had between conference officials and Lancaster Barnstormers personnel, and after the teams had finished their warmups they convened in the dugout at 9:45 a.m. only to get the news that we were pushed back until much later.

Shippensburg and California (Pa.) have left to try and cool down as well as get some lunch before coming back later and re-warming up for a 1 p.m. start. We'll be back later with updates.