Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – The Shippensburg University softball team dropped both ends of a PSAC Eastern Division doubleheader to East Stroudsburg on a frigid and windy Tuesday afternoon from Robb Field, losing a 4-3 heartbreaker and a 15-7 decision in six innings.

Shippensburg (14-20, 4-6 PSAC East) was one out away from a win in the opening game before ESU catcher Alex Schubert laced a two-run double into the right-center field gap to put the Warriors ahead. The Raiders could only muster a two-out single in the bottom of the seventh before ESU clinched the victory.

SU used four pitchers in the second game but could not solve the riddle of the visitors' bats. The two teams combined for 22 runs, 26 hits and five errors in Game 2 – including the first career home run for SU senior catcher Meg Lehman.

Several Raiders had stellar days at the plate – including sophomore second baseman Rachel Shumway going 5-for-7 with a walk and a RBI. Lehman had two hits, four RBIs and three successful sacrifices between the two games while sophomore Hilary Lyons got on base six times from the leadoff spot after compiling a 2-for-4 line with four walks and three runs scored.

East Stroudsburg (11-22, 5-5 PSAC East) cranked out 19 runs and 25 hits in Tuesday's doubleheader to win the season series over the Raiders, 3-1, and move into sole possession of second place in the PSAC Eastern Division. Schubert and Cara McNeil each had four hits in the doubleheader for the Warriors. 

Shippensburg will travel to West Chester at 1 p.m. Saturday for a pivotal PSAC Eastern Division doubleheader. Both teams are currently tied for third place in the division after West Chester swept Millersville on Tuesday by scores of 13-1 and 7-3. 

Game 1: East Stroudsburg 4, Shippensburg 3

Shippensburg took a 2-1 lead after the opening frame thanks to four hits in the first inning. Lyons produced an infield hit, Lehman sacrificed her to second and sophomore Marygrace Serra singled her home on the first pitch she saw. It was the first hit and RBI of the season for Serra, who advanced to second on the throw home.

Freshman Maddie Justice then came to the plate and singled home Serra to put the Raiders up 2-1. Shumway singled to put two runners on base, but ESU pitcher Taylor Webb ended the SU threat with a strikeout and a flyout.

Sophomore Emily Estep lasted three innings in the opener, allowing two runs on six hits but striking out seven over the course of 73 pitches. Freshman Liz Parkins pitched the final four innings, allowing two runs on three hits with five strikeouts while going 2-for-2 at the plate.

SU got its third run in the bottom of the sixth inning. Shumway led off with a walk, and then got to second base after Parkins put forth a sacrifice on which she ended up legging out a single. A fielder's choice and a walk loaded the bases with one out before Webb struck out a pinch hitter. With two outs, Lyons fouled off the first pitch before four straight balls resulted in a bases-loaded walk.

Game 2: East Stroudsburg 15, Shippensburg 7 (6 innings)

East Stroudsburg broke Game 2 open with a seven-run third inning – the decisive blow being a three-run home run by pinch hitter McNeil. SU was able to get three back in the bottom of the fourth – plating runs on a RBI-groundout by freshman Emmie Burke, a sacrifice fly from Lehman and an RBI-single from Shumway.

However, the Warriors scored three runs in the fifth and five more in the sixth to build a sizable advantage. The Raiders fought back for four more runs in their final at-bat – three on the memorable home run by Lehman and another on a wild pitch.
 
Freshman Jessie Trammell earned the start at designated player in Game 2 and finished 2-for-2 with a walk and two runs scored.