Game 1
Game 2

SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. - The Shippensburg softball team totaled seven runs and 17 hits in a Friday doubleheader on a grey afternoon at Robb Field but could not deliver with runners in scoring position when most needed, stranding 20 runners over the course of doubleheader losses to Mansfield by scores of 1-0 and 8-7.

Shippensburg (22-18, 5-7 PSAC East) out-hit Mansfield (9-12, 3-9 PSAC East) 8-6 in the opener Friday and had at least one base runner in six of the seven innings but stranded 10 runners in the game. The best chance for the Lady Raiders came in the second inning with the bases loaded and one out, but junior Rachelle Wedell hit a scorching line drive that was caught by the shortstop, who threw it to third base and doubled up senior Amanda Bardo.

In the bottom of the seventh, Wedell led off and reached base after catcher's interference. Freshman Jill Mullan pinch-ran and advanced to second after a sacrifice from senior Liz Good, but second base would be as far as Wedell reached as a foul out and and a pop out concluded the first game of the doubleheader in favor of the Mountaineers.

The only run of the first game crossed the plate in the fourth inning. With runners on first and third with one out, senior Dani Shields threw a wild pitch that scored Shana Markwis. Shields finished the game allowing just four hits while striking out six. Mansfield starter Whitney Brown allowed six hits and four walks while only striking out one, but possessed enough guile in the circle to earn her fourth victory of the season.

Game 2 was a complete reversal from the opener, as the two teams combined for 15 runs and 18 hits. Each team scored a run in the first two innings, but the Lady Raiders seemed to take control with two runs in both the fourth and fifth innings.

The fourth inning was a rough one for Mansfield shortstop Janelle Antes, who committed two errors that allowed Shippenburg runners to reach base. After a run scored on the second error, the Lady Raiders loaded the bases and freshman Hope Cornell sustained one of three hit-by-pitches on the afternoon for another RBI. Bardo and freshman Moira Johnsen delivered RBI-singles in the fifth inning that gave Shippensburg a 6-3 lead.

Unfortunately, things fell rapidly out of control in the top of the sixth inning as Mansfield scored five runs on just two hits. After two walks to start the inning, senior Jill Kirby entered but a fielding error loaded the bases. Amanda Lewis was then issued a bases-loaded walk, and Markwis then dropped a two-run single into right field that quickly tied the score at 6-6.

A decisive play in the inning followed when Antes hit a grounder to the shortstop, but Cornell threw to first for the out and allowed the seventh run of the game to score. A Jess Christ RBI-single capped off the inning and gave the Mountaineers a two-run lead. Johnsen tripled to left center for Shippensburg to make it a one-run game but the Lady Raiders could not get any closer.    

After Friday's action, four teams were tied for third place in the PSAC Eastern Division with 5-7 conference records. In addition to West Chester and Millersville, the Lady Raiders are also tied with East Stroudsburg. The two teams play tomorrow in a doubleheader at East Stroudsburg that begins at 1 p.m.