Shippensburg University’s softball team picked up a sweep over No. 23 Kutztown University in their Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division doubleheader Friday.
Sophomore Hannah Marsteller continued her season long hot streak as she homered three times on the day to bring her total to 15 on the year, giving her the most home runs in a single season in school history. With the 15 bombs, Marsteller surpassed previous record holders Nicole Henninger and Taylor Weisman, who each blasted 12 home runs in their respective seasons.
Through 28 games this season Marsteller is batting .476 with 46 RBIs. She has only struck out four times.
Marsteller was not the only Raider to bring her bat with her to Kutztown, as SU recorded 12 hits in each game and all nine players cataloged a hit on the day.
In Game 1, SU (15-13, 13-11 PSAC East) faced KU ace Bridget Bailey who entered the game with a 10-0 record. SU showed no fear and put up six runs before Bailey could ever record an out. Marsteller plated three on a three-run homer and freshmen Alyssa Nehlen and Toni Jones each had RBI doubles in the first inning. A fielder’s choice from freshman Taylor Radziewicz made it 7-0 in the second inning.
On the mound, freshman Emma Flattery retired 11 of her first 12 batters and took a no-hitter into the fourth inning. After giving up two runs, she was pulled for fellow freshman Brianna Small who did not allow any more runs the rest of the way.
A four-run seventh inning from SU, including a Marsteller solo home run, led to a 11-2 Game 1 win.
The Raiders scored runs early again in Game 2 as Jones and Radziewicz both drove in a run in the first inning. Junior Courtney Coy and sophomore Lacey Hunter both hit solo shots in the second inning to make it 4-1.
Coy drove in another run with a fourth-frame solo blast and Marsteller hit her third big fly of the day in the fifth.
Small earned her third complete game of the season, giving up two runs and throwing only 81 pitches. Small and Flattery combined for 11 strikeouts on the day.
This is the first sweep at KU for the Raiders since 2013. With the sweep and Game 1 win, head coach Alison Van Scyoc collected her 100th career victory. The pair of wins also boosted Van Scyoc’s overall record to 101-81, which she has accumulated across five seasons.
The Raiders will return home Tuesday as they take on Pitt-Johnstown in a doubleheader at Robb Field. First pitches Tuesday are scheduled for 2:30 and 4:30 p.m.
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