Box Score 1 | Box Score 2
SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – The Shippensburg University softball team closed out its regular season on a sunny Saturday afternoon with a pair of thrilling one-run victories over PSAC East rival East Stroudsburg, taking the opener 3-2 in 10 innings before taking the nightcap 1-0 in regulation.

Shippensburg (30-9, 12-4 PSAC East) honored its two seniors – Kiersten Darhower and Jenn Deardorff – in a ceremony between games. Darhower had four of SU's nine hits in the doubleheader and stole three bases. She drove in the winning run in Game 1 with a two-out blooper that bounced out of the left fielder's glove as she dove for the catch.

SU led 2-1 in the opener after a third-inning single by sophomore Jessie Trammell scalded off the pitcher's glove and ricocheted just past the out-stretched glove of the second baseman who was lunging up the middle to field it. The hit scored sophomore Emmie Burke from third base and a sprinting Hilary Lyons from second.

Just one run was scored in Game 2 but it was a memorable one. With two outs in the fifth inning, junior Rachel Shumway quickly fell behind 0-2 before working the count full after seven pitches. In a memorable battle with ESU starter Laura Suits, Shumway then proceeded to foul off seven straight pitches. On the 15th pitch of the at-bat, Shumway connected and sent a shot soaring over the left-field fence for a home run that proved to be the deciding margin in the game.

SU used all three of its pitchers in the doubleheader and each performed well. Sophomore Liz Parkins started the opener and gave up two runs on six hits with five strikeouts before being relieved by junior Emily Estep in the sixth.

Estep pitched the final five innings and gave up just one hit with seven strikeouts to push her season record to 15-5. With the international tie-breaker rule taking effect in the 10th and a runner placed at second base to begin each frame, Estep managed to leave the runner stranded at third with back-to-back swinging strikeouts.

Sophomore Makenzie Lynn pitched a gem in the nightcap, giving up just two hits and a walk in a complete-game effort with two strikeouts.

SU will head to Quakertown early next week for the 2013 PSAC Softball Championships as the No. 1 seed in the East. At approximately 4 p.m. Wednesday from Veterans Park, the Raiders will face off against the winner of Wednesday morning's matchup between Central No. 3 seed Bloomsburg and West No. 3 seed Gannon.

Additional information on the tournament, including a bracket and directions to Quakertown, can be accessed here.

Notes: The Raiders honored Darhower and Deardorff – the team's two seniors – in a ceremony between games. Head coach Bob Brookens was honored before the doubleheader for his 400th career win with a memento presented by director of athletics Jeff Michaels and university president Bill Ruud.