Softball | 2/19/2016 9:30:00 PM

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 | Box Score 3 Stats mentioned are unofficial; full box scores to be posted once available and verified.
 
The Shippensburg University softball team opened the 2016 season winning 2-of-3 games Friday in Myrtle Beach, dropping a one-run game before responding with a pair of decisive victories. SU fell 8-7 to Merrimack before winning 11-5 against Wilmington and 9-1 over Mercy.
 
SU swung the bats well, totaling 33 hits across the three games. Multiple Raiders had impressive days, including sophomore Tara Bicko, who totaled six hits at the top of the SU order. Senior Bri Giovenco contributed four hits, including SU's lone big fly – a two-run home run in the first inning of the win over Wilmington.
 
The Raiders' 2015 hitting leader, senior Taylor Pattillo, had four hits and five runs scored on the day. Sophomore outfielder Eryn Caragein had a fine day, recording four hits, including a double and two triples.
 
Freshman Maddie Schafer came up with five hits, including a double, triple, and three runs scored. Sophomore Chloe Collins also had four hits, including a double.
 
Freshman pitcher Julia Tosti was fantastic in the circle for SU, pitching 7.1 scoreless innings and picking up the win in relief against Wilmington.
 
Merrimack 8, Shippensburg 7
 
The Raiders trailed 7-0 entering the bottom of the fifth inning when the SU lineup exploded with seven runs on five hits to tie the game. Schafer, Collins and sophomore Anna Warfield doubled consecutively before Caragein tripled. Following a walk, Bicko doubled for SU's fifth extra-base hit of the inning.
 
However, after both teams went scoreless in the sixth inning, Merrimack led off the top half of the seventh inning with a solo home run to pull ahead. The Raiders managed just a one-out single in their final at-bat.
 
Shippensburg 11, Wilmington 5
 
A six-run first inning by SU was highlighted by Giovenco's two-run blast and a two-run triple by Caragein. The Wildcats cut the Raider lead to one by plating five in the third inning. SU responded with a run in the fourth inning, two in the fifth and two in the sixth to pull away.
 
SU had 15 hits in the game, including two-hit performances by Bicko, Giovenco, Pattillo, Schafer, Collins, Warfield and Caragein.
 
Tosti came on in relief and needed just 44 pitches to throw 4.1 scoreless innings. She allowed just two hits to pick up the win.
 
Shippensburg 9, Mercy 1 (six innings)
 
Tosti continued her strong day by throwing three scoreless innings while the SU bats stayed hot. The Raiders manufactured a run in the second inning to score Pattillo after her leadoff single, but the big damage came in the third inning.
 
SU scored five in the third, highlighted by Schafer's triple. The Raiders then added to three in the sixth inning to finish the game an inning early. Freshman Taryn Wilson and junior Casey Thompson finished out Tosti's start in the SU victory.
 
The Raiders play two games Saturday in Myrtle Beach. SU will take on West Liberty at noon followed by a matchup with New Haven at 2 p.m.