SALISBURY, N.C. - The Shippensburg University softball team opened its 2008 season with an impressive 9-1 victory in six innings over Wheeling Jesuit before dropping an 8-0 decision to Coker in game two at the Catawba College Invitational being held at Salisbury Community Park.

The Lady Raiders (1-1) totaled nine runs on 16 hits in the first game, including two home runs. The barrage started with two runs in the first as senior #Amanda Bardo# and freshman Hope Cornell each delivered RBI singles to give Shippensburg a 2-0 lead.

In the third inning, sophomore #Lisamarie Ramagli# doubled home senior Jill Kirby who was pinch-running for junior Lori Knopf before freshman Jill Mullan delivered an RBI-single that plated Ramagli two batters later.

Bardo, who finished the game 3-for-3, smacked a lead-off home run in the fourth inning to give Shippensburg a 5-0 lead and Cornell crushed a ball over the centerfield fence in the sixth that clinched the victory for the Lady Raiders.

Knopf finished the season-opener 3-for-3 with a walk and two runs scored as eight of the nine Lady Raider starters recorded at least one hit. Mullan finished her first collegiate game with three hits in four at-bats.

Senior #Dani Shields# pitched a complete game against the Cardinals to earn her first victory of the season, scattering three hits while striking out seven.

However, Shippensburg struggled in the nightcap as the Lady Raiders could only muster four hits against Coker's Shelly Catlett. A double from Ramagli in the second inning was the only extra-base hit for Shippensburg in the contest.

Kirby took the loss for the Lady Raiders, allowing five earned runs in five innings while striking out four. Freshman Dana Ward recorded two outs in the sixth inning before allowing a home run that ended the game.

Ward, Mullan and Cornell were just three of the six freshmen to make their debuts for Shippensburg on Friday.

Freshman Courtney Steele started both games at third base while freshman Margaret Sander pinch-hit in game one and freshman Moira Johnsen started at second base in game two.

Shippensburg will continue in the Catawba Invitational tomorrow with two games. The Lady Raiders will take on No. 23 Georgia College & State at 11:00 a.m., before taking on Indianapolis at 3:00 p.m.

- Lady Raider Softball -