Box Score

QUAKERTOWN, Pa. – Junior Rachel Shumway hit a three-run home run Thursday morning to cap off a four-run third inning that propelled the Shippensburg University softball team to a 4-2 victory over Mansfield (Central No. 2 seed) in a contentious elimination game at the 2013 PSAC Tournament being conducted at Veterans Park.

Thursday morning's drama began in the top of the third inning. With two outs, Mansfield catcher Chara Dixon popped up a ball along the first-base line and proceeded to run over sophomore Maddie Justice, who was attempting to make the catch. Dixon was called out for runner's interference and Justice eventually shook off the collision to stay in the game.

Senior Kiersten Darhower, who went 3-for-4 against the Mountaineers, beat out an infield single to lead off the bottom of the third inning and then advanced to second on a fielding error by the first baseman after the catcher attempted a pickoff during Justice's ensuing at-bat.

With Justice still at the plate, another lengthy debate ensued between Mansfield head coach Edith Gallagher and the home plate umpire after Gallagher was asked to move from her seated position behind the fence and into the Mountaineer dugout.

Justice's long at-bat culminated with a bizarre play that gave SU a 1-0 lead. She lined a shot to second base that everyone in the field of play initially thought was caught, but the home plate umpire ran in emphatically ruling it was not a catch.

Mass confusion ensued. Darhower ended up on third base while Justice, who was two steps down the line, began running to first base upon seeing it was not covered. Justice barely won the foot race to first base, and while that was occurring, Darhower scurried home to give Shippensburg its first run of the game.

Freshman Julie Cramer pinch ran for Justice, and two batters later, sophomore Taylor Weisman singled to put runners on first and second. Shumway then stepped to the plate, and on the ninth pitch of the at-bat, launched a homer over the left-field fence that put the Raiders up 4-0.

Sophomore Makenzie Lynn pitched efficiently for Shippensburg and improved her record to 7-4. Her only significant trouble came in the fourth inning, as the Mountaineers got a two-run homer off the bat of Kate Pratt – who currently leads the PSAC with 17 round trippers. Two more Mountaineers reached base on singles in the inning before Lynn induced a comebacker to end the threat.

Lynn did not walk a batter and struck out seven in her 10th complete game this season.

At the plate, Weisman was 2-for-2 with a double, walk and run scored.

The Raiders will play Kutztown or West Chester at 4 p.m. in another elimination game.