Shippensburg University’s softball team enjoyed two blowout victories in a doubleheader sweep of Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division counterpart, Lock Haven University. 

SU (7-9, 6-8 PSAC) belted out 25 hits total, with all nine Raiders collecting two or more knocks in the 8-1 and 9-3 wins. 

The Raiders used the two-out rallies to get on the board Saturday, with 13 of their 17 total runs coming with two outs.

In the first inning of Game 1, SU scored six runs, setting the tone for the rest of the day. Sophomore Hannah Marsteller opened it up with an RBI triple, with junior Courtney Coy plating her soon after, a line drive single.

With the bases loaded in the same inning, freshman Toni Jones hit a two-run single to left field, followed by a two-run single to the same spot by sophomore Lacey Hunter. 

Sophomore Morgan DeFeo and freshman Taylor Radziewicz got SU their last two runs in the fifth off RBI singles. 

Freshman Brianna Small pitched a complete game, giving up just one run. She retired the first nine batters she faced, striking out 11.

To start Game 2, SU kept the ball in Small’s hand. However, LHU seemed to figure out her strategy as she gave up two runs in the first inning and was pulled in favor of freshman Maelynn Leber. 

Leber went on to finish the game, only allowing one run on five hits in 6.1 innings of work. 

Marsteller got a run back for the Raiders in the bottom of the first as a result of an RBI single. Although, the bats really exploded for SU during the third inning.

DeFeo opened the inning with an RBI double, followed by a fielder’s choice and a Marsteller sacrifice fly to make it a 4-2 SU lead. Three straight two-out singles later played by Jones, Hunter and freshman Cori Ritter, the lead amounted to 7-2. 

The bottom of the sixth saw Radziewicz and Leber pad the lead with RBI singles, with Shippensburg going on to win 9-3. 

Marsteller has started the season on a 16-game hitting streak, which ties the longest known single-season hitting streak in school history. 

Dating back to when the 2020 season ended, Marsteller is on a 21-game hitting streak. According to the NCAA Division II record book, only two PSAC players have ever gone on a 25-game or more streak.

SU will play Millersville University Friday and Saturday, another PSAC East four-game home-and-home series. The Raiders will host the Marauders Friday and hit the road Saturday. First pitches Friday are set for 2:30 and 4:30 p.m. 

Share