The Shippensburg University softball team split a road doubleheader on Saturday afternoon at West Chester as the Raiders won the season series, 3-1, over the PSAC East rival Golden Rams. SU dropped Game 1 by a score of 4-1 before holding on for a 3-1 victory in Game 2.
Jessie Trammell paced the Raiders offensively, going 2-for-6 over the two games and drove in a run in Game 2. Rachel Shumway also drove in a run in the win, while Kiersten Darhower an RBI in the opener.
Emily Estep earned her fifth victory of the season in Game 2, pitching four innings and giving up four hits while striking out four. Makenzie Lynn pitched the final three innings and gave up two hits while fanning two to earn her first save of the year.
Lynn also appeared in the circle in Game 1, pitching one perfect inning of relief for freshman Liz Parkins, who gave up four runs in five innings of work with three strikeouts.
In Game 1, Parkins and WCU pitcher Devon Utterback combined to give up just one hit through the first three innings. The Golden Rams managed to plate four runs in the fourth frame, however, after totaling three hits and two walks.
Trammell broke up Utterback’s perfect game bid with a single up the middle in the fifth inning. In the top of the seventh, Maddie Justice led off with a walk. Trammell followed with a fielder’s choice before Tyler Thompson singled to shortstop and advanced Trammell to second base.
Later, with two outs and runners on first and second, Darhower singled through the left side to score senior pinch runner Chelsea Kendall to close the deficit to 4-1. A strikeout in the next at-bat ended SU’s comeback bid.
In Game 2, the Raiders jumped out early in the first inning, scoring two runs on three hits and one WCU error. Meg Lehman doubled to left center field in the second at-bat and advanced to third on a Justice single down the left field line.
Trammell then doubled to center field to drive in Lehman, before Justice managed to score on the play on a throwing error from the catcher, for a 2-0 lead.
West Chester cut the deficit in half, down 2-1, but were unable to score anymore.
SU would add a run late in the game to push its lead to 3-1 which was the eventual final score.
SU plays again Friday when it plays Kutztown University at home.
The Slate welcomes thoughtful discussion on all of our stories, but please keep comments civil and on-topic. Read our full guidelines here.