The Shippensburg University softball team knows how important it will be to win its final conference games if it wants to make a playoff appearance. That is what makes a three-win weekend sweeter.

The Raiders finished its weekend 3–1, grabbing two wins against Goldey-Beacom College Sunday, while earning a key split against Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) East Division foe West Chester University, Saturday.

“The weekend was huge for us, especially being able to take one from West Chester,” said SU head coach Alison Van Scyoc. “We kind of regrouped in the beginning of the week and sat down and re-evaluated who we were and the intensity we wanted to bring to the games, and we’re starting to get players to buy in and this weekend showed that.”

The Raiders started their weekend Saturday against No. 22 West Chester, where SU fell 7–2 in Game 1, but stormed back for a huge 6–0 decision in Game 2.

In Game 2, Nicole Smith worked her way out of a bases-loaded jam in the first, before SU got the bats going. In the third inning, Maddie Mulhall led off with a single, followed by a bunt-single by Anna Warfield. Kayla Bonawitz then advanced Mulhall and Warfield with a sacrifice bunt, before Kendall Geis put SU on the board with an RBI single, as SU led 1–0.

Chloe Collins put the game out of reach with a grand slam to left-center field to give SU the 6–0 win.

On Sunday, the Raiders got the bats out early and never looked back, getting the best of Goldey-Beacom, 6–2 in Game 1, before knocking off the Lightning, 7–2, in Game 2. The Raiders tallied 20 hits on the day in the non-conference doubleheader, with each starter recording at least one hit on the day.

In Game 1, Addy Szczerba was in the circle and collected her first collegiate win. The start was the first of Szczerba’s career and she performed well, throwing 5 1/3 innings and giving up just two runs — one of which was earned — while striking out five batters. Julia Tosti came on in relief to get the last five outs to earn her third save of the year.

“Addy did an awesome job,” Van Scyoc said. “It was actually her first collegiate win. She has been making progress all year in practice and she performed and that’s all we can ask from her.”

Offensively the Raiders got another strong game from Collins, who followed up her grand slam Saturday with a 3-for-4 day Sunday in Game 1 with three RBIs, two runs and a stolen base. With her three RBIs, Collins became the first player since Taylor Weisman in 2014, to record 30 or more RBIs in a season.

In Game 2, Taryn Wilson was outstanding in the circle, throwing a complete game while surrendering just one earned run on three hits to go along with eight strikeouts.

For SU, the hits came in bunches on Sunday, including nine hits with runners in scoring position. Overall, Tara Bicko finished 4-for-7 on the day with two doubles, three RBIs and two runs scored, while extending her hit streak to five games. Macy Luck was 3-for-5 with a double, sacrifice fly and two RBIs, a stolen base and two runs scored. Meghan Klee recorded three hits, while Bonawitz and Warfield each had multiple hits.

With the Raiders’ two wins, SU improved its non-conference record to 13–7, a mark that has allowed SU to keep pace in the PSAC, as only Kutztown University and West Chester have more victories among conference teams.

The Raiders, who currently trail Kutztown and West Chester in the PSAC East Division, will start a stretch of key conference games that will help the team make a push for the PSAC Playoffs.

“For us every single game matters,” Van Scyoc said. “We are looking to take it one pitch at a time, one game at a time and steal one anytime we can.”

The Raiders, 19–16, will be back in action Friday against East Stroudsburg University for a doubleheader. First pitch is set for 2:30 p.m.

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