PORTSMOUTH – For the second time in less than a month the Shawnee State Bears beat the Ohio-Chillicothe Hilltoppers in a non-conference affair. The Bears (18-14) used 17 hits to score 17 runs to come out victorious against the Hilltoppers 17-4. The offensive outburst matched their second largest scoring output against an opponent this season (17 against West Virginia Tech).

For the Bears, it was their ninth time scoring at least 10 or more runs this season. Two of those coming against Ohio-Chillicothe as Shawnee State won 23-3 on Wednesday, February 27. Dating back to last year, the offensive juggernaut of the Bears has outscored the Hilltoppers 78-8 in three games after a 38-1 victory a year ago, for an average of 26 runs per game.

Six Shawnee State players had at least two hits in the game. Jake Lankheit lead the way for the Bears, going 3-for-4 with 4 RBI's and two runs scored. Brady Hightchew, Ryan Queener, Todd Queener, Tyler Bice, and Zach Reed all had two hits for Shawnee State. The Bears had 12 singles, four doubles (Calvin Sluberski, Lankheit, and Reed who had two), and one triple (R. Queener) for the game.

Shawnee State also used a total of four pitchers over nine innings of the game. Starter Ryan Hackworth tossed 5.0 innings allowing two runs (one earned) on seven hits. Hackworth (1-0) tossed four straight scoreless innings after allowing two runs in the first inning to earn the victory. Jake Huber, Andrew Kidd and Bryan Sharkey all came into relief and combined throwing 4.0 innings allowing two runs (one earned) on only three hits.

Shawnee State will be back in action this weekend to take on (12) Lindsey Wilson in a Mid-South Conference showdown. The first game is scheduled to start at 4:00 p.m. at Branch Rickey Park on Friday, March 22 before a doubleheader the following day beginning at noon.