Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – In its PSAC East-opening doubleheader against Mansfield on Saturday afternoon, the No. 16-ranked Shippensburg University softball team rode a nine-strikeout effort by senior pitcher Emily Estep in a 2-1 Game 1 victory before collecting just two hits in a 5-0 Game 2 loss to split with the Mountaineers in SU's home opener from Robb Field.

The Raiders (15-3, 1-1 PSAC East) were out-hit on the day by a 13-6 margin but managed to take the opener courtesy of back-to-back runs in the third and fourth innings, with the latter driven in via a sacrifice fly by sophomore second baseman Taylor Pattillo that plated junior shortstop Taylor Weisman (lead-off double).

Estep went the distance to improve to 7-0 on the season and gave up five hits and one run in a 99-pitch performance. Her lone run given up came in the sixth, and after inducing outs to the first two batter in the seventh, Estep allowed a double and an infield single to back-to-back hitters to put runners at the corner. Estep escaped the jam and finished off the game with a swinging strikeout in four pitches.

Mansfield's (9-3, 1-1) five-run third inning in Game 2 included a pair of home runs – a solo shot to center by Stephanie Simmeth and a three-run shot to left by Goodwin – and was all the Mountaineers needed to end SU's eight-game winning streak.

Junior Makenzie Lynn threw 3.2 innings and gave up one earned on six hits. Estep gave up a hit and struck out one in 2.1 innings of relief while freshman Casey Thompson pitched a scoreless sixth in her Robb Field debut.

Weisman and junior designated player Jessie Trammell each totaled two hits on the day while junior center fielder Tyler Thompson stole two bases and scored a run.

Sophomore Julie Cramer stole a pair of bases as a pinch runner, senior left fielder Hilary Lyons added a hit and a stolen base and Estep collected her first hit of the season.

SU will host a pair of PSAC East doubleheaders next weekend from Robb Field – vs. Bloomsburg at 2:30 p.m. Friday and vs. East Stroudsburg at 1 p.m. Saturday.