By: By: Bill Morgal, Sports Information Director
SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – The Shippensburg University softball team made its triumphant return to the PSAC Championships on a blustery Thursday afternoon from Robb Field with a comeback victory over Mercyhurst, the No. 2 seed from the Western Division. SU scored a run in each of the last two innings to pick up a 2-1 win over the Lakers.
Shippensburg (28-11) got a marvelous start from junior
Chelsea Kendall, who picked up her ninth victory of the season. She allowed a run and two hits in the first inning but settled down to allow just four hits the rest of the way – striking out four. Kendall retired nine of the final 10 hitters she faced and allowed just one extra-base hit in the contest.
For the first five innings, SU was mystified by the change of speeds from Mercyhurst pitcher Megan Hopton. After a tough opening game start against IUP, Hopton limited the Raiders to four hits through the first five innings.
In the sixth, senior
Jill Mullan set the table with an infield single. She stole second – her 51st career stolen base – and moved to third base after a sacrifice bunt by senior
Dana Ward.
Hopton then fanned senior
Moira Johnsen for the second out, but senior
Hope Cornell sliced a shot over the pitcher that Laker shortstop Julie Harmon knocked down but resulted in a single to tie the score at 1-1. Cornell was 2-for-3 in the contest – she doubled to lead off the second inning.
In the bottom of the seventh, freshman
Emily Estep reached base after a misplay by Harmon. Sophomore
Kiersten Darhower replaced Estep on the basepaths and moved to second base after a sacrifice bunt by junior
Meg Lehman.
With two outs, junior
Emily Parkins blooped a 1-0 pitch into left-center field to plate Darhower and give Shippensburg the victory.
The play that may have been the difference in the game occurred in the top of the third inning. With two on and two out, the Lakers brought cleanup hitter Courtney Smith to the plate – Smith had already doubled home a run in the first. Smith ripped a 2-0 pitch into right-center field gap, but Johnsen was able to track the ball and make a sensational diving catch. Johnsen's all-out effort saved two runs.
The Raiders went on to face IUP at 3:30 p.m.
