WEST CHESTER, Pa. – Freshman pitcher Emily Estep threw a three-hitter with 12 strikeouts and senior Courtney Steele slugged a pair of solo home runs as the No. 24-ranked Shippensburg University softball team split its Tuesday afternoon PSAC Eastern Division doubleheader at West Chester. SU won the second game 4-1 after sustaining a 9-1 loss in six innings.

Shippensburg (23-9, 9-1 PSAC East) had its winning streak snapped in the opener but regained its momentum early in Game 2 with a second-inning solo shot by Steele. In the third inning, senior Moira Johnsen contributed a two-out RBI with a single up the middle that scored sophomore Jenna Allen.

Senior Jill Mullan doubled in the fifth inning and eventually scored on a error. Mullan, who is hitting .378 in conference games, had a hit and a run in both games on Tuesday. In the sixth, Steele blasted another home run to cap off the scoring.

Steele continues to pace the Raiders at the plate during conference play. Through 10 games in PSAC Eastern Division play, Steele is batting .464 with three home runs and 13 RBIs while compiling a .529 on-base percentage. She has struck out just twice in 28 at-bats during that span.

Estep had a no-hitter going in the fourth before giving a solo home run. She allowed two singles in the sixth but was otherwise unblemished. It is the third straight start in which Estep has struck out at least 10 batters.

In seven appearances during conference play, Estep is 7-0 with a 0.55 earned-run average. She has not allowed more than one earned run in any of her five PSAC East starts while striking out 54 batters in 38 innings.

Senior Dana Ward had two hits in each game. Ward has at least one hit in six of the last seven games and has been a valuable presence from the No. 2 spot in the lineup.

West Chester (21-16, 5-5 PSAC East) used a seven-run fourth inning to take control of the opener. In the decisive frame, a three-run homer put the Golden Rams in front and four unearned runs crossed the plate with two outs. Junior Chelsea Kendall took the loss but struck out eight batters in 5.1 innings.

On Friday, Shippensburg will host Kutztown from Robb Field. The first pitch is scheduled for 2:30 p.m.

Friday's start may be moved up slightly to help accommodate SU's travel plans – the Raiders will have to get on the bus immediately after the doubleheader to head to Erie for Saturday's doubleheader against Mercyhurst.