By: JC Greenwood SUTV News
The Shippensburg University softball team split Tuesday afternoon’s doubleheader with Lock Haven in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division contest. The Raiders lost game one 8-7 in 9-innings, before rebounding and taking game two 8-1.
Lock Haven (20-20, 10-14 PSAC East) started off strong in the top of the first inning, getting a two-run home run from Summer Peters and a solo home run from Hayley Lestician that gave the Bald Eagles a 3-0 lead. LHU would add another run in the top of the third from a RBI single from Kerri McCallum that brought Peters home.
Shippensburg (20-15, 14-10) would respond in the bottom of the third inning with a two-run home run shot from graduate Hannah Marsteller that brought home freshman Caitlyn Martell to narrow Lock Haven’s lead 4-2. The Bald Eagles would extend their lead again in the top of the fourth inning after a RBI walk from Peters and two runs scored by a Raider error to lead 7-2.
The Raiders would not go down without a fight, quickly scoring two runs in the bottom of the fourth inning off a LHU error and an RBI single by Morgan Lindsey to cut the Bald Eagle’s lead to 7-4. SU would respond again in the bottom of the seventh inning with a two-run double by Kaira Zamadics and an RBI single by pinch-hitter Ally Weaver that brought Zamadics home and tied the game 7-7.
In extra innings, Lock Haven would get the game-winning run in the top of the ninth through an RBI single by Riley McClellan to give the Bald Eagles an 8-7 lead. SU wasn’t able to respond in the bottom of the ninth, leaving two runners on base.
Shippensburg would be the ones off to a strong start in game two, getting an RBI double from Alyssa Nehlen to bring home Marsteller. Zamadics would also hit an RBI single to extend the lead to 2-0. Martell would add another RBI in the bottom of the second inning to bring the Raiders lead to 3-0. Pitcher Emma Flattery wouldn’t allow a run until the top of the sixth inning, coming from an RBI single from Peters.
Shippensburg would add five more runs in the bottom of the sixth, starting with a three-run home run bomb by Marsteller, the PSAC home run leader. Lindsay would add a home run of her own right after, with the final run coming from an error by LHU’s pitcher. SU would win the second game 8-1.
The Raiders will be back in action on Saturday for their senior day, hosting Millersville at 1 p.m., and will honor five seniors.