In the second game of a double header, the Shippensburg University softball team walked off with a victory against the Golden Rams of West Chester, 2-1, from Robb Field on Tuesday.
In the first inning, WCU started the game with two singles, but starting pitcher Liz Parkins, bounced back by striking out two batters and getting a groundout. In the bottom half of the inning, SU led off with a single and a stolen base, but the early offense halted after a great diving catch by WCU’s Megan Kelly.
WCU scored a run on two hits in the second inning. SU was unable to answer in the bottom half of the inning, grounding out for all three outs.
The SU offense surged in the bottom half of the third inning. After a leadoff pop-up, SU hit three straight singles, but was unable to capitalize. Another pop-up and a groundout to end the inning got WCU pitcher Devon Utterback and the defense out of trouble.
SU shut down the WCU offense in the top half of the fifth inning, giving the offense a chance to come back. A lead off single, followed by a bunt single put the Raiders in a great situation to even the score.
The chances became even greater after a sacrifice bunt put runners on second and third base with only one out. However, WCU got out of trouble when a strikeout and a groundout ended the inning with two runners in scoring position.
Once again Parkins shut down the WCU offense, and once again SU started its half of the inning with a single. A sacrifice bunt by Meg Lehman put a runner in scoring position with less than two outs. Taylor Weisman capitalized with an RBI single to tie the game.
After a scoreless sixth, SU lead off the bottom of the seventh with a single by Tyler Thompson. Runners advanced following a sacrifice bunt and another single. With runners on first and third, Taylor Weisman crushed a double to the fence, driving in the winning run for SU. SU won 2-1.
SU will face off against a number of tough matchups in the coming weeks against PSAC foes.
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