SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – The Shippensburg University softball team was eliminated from the 2011 PSAC Tournament on a frigid and damp Friday morning from Robb Field with a 3-1 loss to the No. 24-ranked Crimson Hawks of IUP. SU now awaits the final regional rankings to be released in two weeks following the conclusion of conference tournaments.

Shippensburg (28-13) got another strong start from junior Chelsea Kendall, who did everything in her power to give the Raiders a chance for the win. She allowed just one earned run on seven hits in her team-high 14th complete game of the season. Kendall also struck out four batters.

Trailing 1-0 after five innings, SU made its stand in the top of the sixth inning (the Raiders were once again the visitors – the home team was decided by a coin flip after last night's game). With sleet falling from the sky, sophomore Jenna Allen set the table by drawing a five-pitch walk. Allen was then lifted for freshman pinch runner Hilary Lyons.

Senior Jill Mullan laid down a sacrifice in the next at-bat and ultimately reached after a bobble by the IUP third baseman. Senior Dana Ward nearly beat out her sacrifice bunt in the next at-bat but still got the job done by moving runners to second and third base with one out.

One pitch later, senior Moira Johnsen launched a ball into left field for a sacrifice fly that scored Lyons. The next batter, senior Hope Cornell, fouled out to end the threat.

Indiana (30-6) used a break in the bottom of the sixth to re-take the lead. A two-base error, wild pitch and a walk put runners on first and third with no outs. Kendall induced a meek pop-up to second for the first out before IUP's Dee Eppinger hit a sacrifice fly that put the Crimson Hawks back on top. With two outs, slap hitter Marissa Leslie beat out an infield single that plated an insurance run.

Freshman Emily Estep singled with one out in the top of the seventh, but the game ended one batter later on a double play.

SU's only other hit in the game was a clean single in the fourth inning by Ward, who fouled off several pitches and worked the count full before sending a shot into left field. Ward stole second with one out but was ultimately stranded there to end the inning.

IUP advanced to the final round of the PSAC Tournament next weekend from Kutztown – who defeated Bloomsburg twice on Friday to win the Central Division pod. West Chester advanced from the Western Division pod.