Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – Facing a full count with a runner on third in the bottom of the seventh of a tie game on Saturday afternoon, junior Rachel Shumway ripped a pinch-hit, walk-off RBI single up the middle to finish off the Shippensburg University softball team's doubleheader sweep of Kutztown in SU's PSAC East and home openers from Robb Field.

The Raiders (19-4, 2-0 PSAC East) won the opener, 4-0, behind a 12-strikeout, two-hit complete game effort from junior Emily Estep.

SU then took the nightcap, 2-1, as Estep (9-2) again earned the victory after entering in relief of sophomore starter Makenzie Lynn in the top of the seventh and inducing the final out on a strikeout looking with runners at the corners. Lynn was also impressive from the circle, giving up just three hits and no earned runs while fanning four.

Shippensburg next travels to West Chester next Fri, April 5, for a doubleheader beginning at 2:30 p.m.

Game 1: Shippensburg 4, Kutztown 0

The Shippensburg offense could only muster five hits against Kutztown (11-13, 1-3) ace Mary Kociencki in Game 1, but managed two runs in the bottom of the fourth off the right-hander. Sophomore shortstop Taylor Weisman hit an RBI triple to right field on an 0-2 pitch that scored senior right fielder Kiersten Darhower, who led off the inning with a bunt single before stealing second.

Weisman then came home herself in the next at-bat on a throwing error from the Kutztown shortstop. The triple was the first for Weisman this season and the second of her career.

Estep had a no-hitter with one out in the fifth inning before KU catcher Katie Lynch hit a single up the middle that ricocheted off the glove of the out-stretched Estep for the first of her only two hits given up on the day.

The Raiders then tacked on two more insurance runs in the bottom of the fifth when junior left fielder Hilary Lyons and junior catcher Kirstin McClune each reached on infield singles and Darhower walked to load the bases. With one out, sophomore Emmie Burke came in to pinch hit and was hit by a pitch that scored Lyons.

Sophomore designated player Jessie Trammell then hit an RBI single through the left side to send home freshman pinch runner Julie Cramer for the 4-0 Raider lead.

Game 2: Shippensburg 2, Kutztown 1

The Raiders plated the first run of the game in the fourth inning when sophomore center fielder Tyler Thompson reached on an infield single, stole second and then scored on a Weisman single to right field.

The Golden Bears answered in the top half of the next inning, however, with a game-tying RBI single up the middle.

SU appeared poised to grab the lead back in the bottom of the sixth with back-to-back singles to lead off the frame before the runners advanced to second and third on a wild pitch in the third at-bat. KU pitcher Dominique Ficara then managed to escape the jam, inducing a lineout to shortstop and back-to-back groundouts to the middle infield to leave both SU runners stranded.

After Estep's final out in the top of the seventh kept the game tied at 1-1, Burke led off the final rally with a full-count double to the corner in right field. Freshman Courtney Kane entered to pinch run and advanced to third on a successful Lyons sacrifice bunt that set up Shumway's game-ending single.