Get to Know Your Raiders: Shawn Patterson

As one of the starting pitchers on the Raider baseball team, junior Shawn Patterson is 1-0 so far this season with a three-hit, three-strikeout effort in six shutout innings in SU’s 6-0 win over Davis & Elkins last Sunday.

A marketing major, Patterson has been reliable throughout his career as a starter and relief pitcher, pitching in 30 games – 15 as a starter and 15 in relief. He’s posted a career 7-3 record and has struck out 49 batters in 98.2 innings.

Patterson, a Springfield native, struck out a career-high 27 batters as a freshman in 2011 and in a game last season against Lock Haven, struck out a single-game career-best seven while giving up one earned run on four hits in six innings against Lock Haven.

Get to know Shawn Patterson…

What is your favorite pre-game ritual?

My favorite pre-game ritual is never the same. If I did something the game before and it worked, then that's what I'm doing next time.

What part of Shippensburg, either the campus or the town, do you most enjoy?

I like going to University Grille on Wednesday nights for wing night.

What is the best class you've taken at Shippensburg?

Principles of Marketing.

If you weren't majoring in marketing, what would your major be?

Criminal justice.

What is your favorite day of the week, and why?

My favorite day of the week is either Friday or Saturday. Waking up on a warm spring day knowing that you're going to play baseball that day is an awesome feeling.

Which are your favorite PSAC schools to compete against, and why?

I like competing against West Chester, Millersville and Kutztown because these are usually some of the better teams in the PSAC.

Which individual athletic accomplishment are you most proud of?

One athletic accomplishment I am proud of is my freshman year when I pitched six and two-thirds innings and only allowed one hit against Millersville.

What's the most difficult part of being a student-athlete?

Managing your classes with all of the practices and games that you play, and finding enough sleep so you can do that.

What piece of advice stays with you at all times?

My dad has always told me since I was young, “Work hard, play hard and have fun.” So I make sure I always do all of those things.

If you could talk to children who are just beginning to show an interest in baseball, what would you tell them they should focus on?

Work on the fundamentals of baseball as much as you can and have fun. Having fun is the most important part if you want to continue playing.

What legacy do you hope to leave behind for future athletes at Shippensburg?

That no matter what you're doing that day, work hard at accomplishing your goal and have fun while you're doing it.