Box Score

KUTZTOWN, Pa. - The Shippensburg University softball team battled No. 16-ranked Kutztown Golden Bears through seven scoreless innings in game four of the 2008 NCAA Division II Mid-Atlantic Region Championship before dropping a 1-0 decision in eight innings Wednesday afternoon at Kutztown's North Campus Field.

Shippensburg (25-24) will now take on Slippery Rock tomorrow morning at 11:30 a.m. in an elimination game. The Rock (27-16) came within one out of upsetting second-seeded Bloomsburg, but dropped a 5-4 decision in nine innings to the Huskies.

Senior Dani Shields and Kutztown's Kait Arbogast engaged in a pitcher's duel Wednesday, as the two starters combined for 14.2 scoreless innings while striking out nine batters. Arbogast went the distance and allowed just four hits while striking out seven for her 24th victory of the season.

The Lady Raiders mustered two significant scoring chances but could not plate a run. In the top of the first inning, freshman Jill Mullan and junior Rachelle Wedell drew walks to start the game, but Arbogast recorded three consecutive outs to end the threat.

In the top of the fourth, Shippensburg started a one-out rally, as junior Lori Knopf cracked the first hit of the game for either team with a single to left field. Senior Sarah Stengl followed with a single into left field and a groundout advanced both runners into scoring position, but a strikeout ended the inning.

The only extra-base hit of the game proved to be the difference. With Knopf in the circle starting the eighth inning, Kutztown's Maria Schiavo nudged a ball off the end of her bat that fell just inches fair down the left-field line and went for a double.

Steph Denlinger ripped a single into left field that moved Schiavo to third. Mullan charged the ball from left field in an attempt to make a throw to home plate but the ball rolled through her legs and Schiavo scored to give the Golden Bears the win.

Tomorrow's game between Shippensburg and Slippery Rock will be broadcast live by Shippensburg University student radio station WSYC 88.7 FM as well as on the internet through www.shipraiders.com.

Live stats of the game will also be available here.