SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – The Shippensburg University softball team began its Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division schedule Wednesday with a doubleheader split of Bloomsburg on a sunny and seasonably warm afternoon from Robb Field. Bloomsburg won Game 1, 7-5, while Shippensburg won Game 2, 2-1.
 
Shippensburg (2-2, 1-1 PSAC East) and Bloomsburg (1-1, 1-1) each totaled 15 hits in the doubleheader. The Raiders committed three errors that resulted in four unearned runs.
 
The Raiders got four more hits on the day from sophomore Hannah Marsteller, including a two-run homer in the seventh inning of Game 1. Sophomore Morgan DeFeo had three hits.
 
The Huskies' Game 1 starting pitcher Abby Wild reached base four times at the plate in addition to getting the victory from the circle. She allowed five runs but struck out eight in a complete-game effort. Shortstop Sammi Starr had four hits on the day.
 
Game 1: Bloomsburg 7, Shippensburg 5
The opener featured a lone unearned run through the first five innings before home plate got a workout in the final two frames. Trailing 2-0 entering the bottom of the sixth, SU loaded the bases with nobody out to preface freshman Taylor Myers delivering an RBI-single that plated freshman pinch runner Maria Leedom.
 
Wild negotiated her way out of the remaining bases-loaded, no-out jam, however, striking out the side to preserve the Bloomsburg lead.
 
In the top of the seventh, the Huskies erupted for five runs – three of which were unearned. Sophomore Tressa Kagarise, the Game 1 starting pitcher, exited during the inning in favor of freshman Hannah Palinkas, only to return later to record the final out. Kagarise finished with seven strikeouts in 6.2 innings of working, yielding three earned runs on seven hits.
 
Despite trailing 7-1 entering the bottom of the seventh, the Raiders got the tying run to the plate. SU opened the seventh with a DeFeo double – her second of the game – and a single from freshman Alyssa Nehlen. Nehlen then stole second base, and junior Courtney Coy singled them both home.
 
Marsteller's home run followed, making it 7-5. Freshman Taylor Radziewicz then singled, bringing the tying run to the plate, but the Raiders did not get any closer.
 
Myers was 3-for-3 at the plate in her home debut, while Marsteller added a double in addition to her home run.
 
Game 2: Shippensburg 2, Bloomsburg 1
Freshman Maelynn Leber threw a complete game on 77 pitches to aid the Raiders to the doubleheader sweep, scattering six hits and striking out two without allowing a walk. The lone run she allowed was unearned. Leber stranded the tying run at third base in the top of the seventh to get her first collegiate win.
 
SU plated single runs in the third and fourth inning with two-out rallies. In the third, a two-out walk by Coy and a single by Marsteller prefaced an RBI-single by Radziewicz. In the fourth, sophomore Lacey Hunter hit an infield single, stole second base, and was singled home by DeFeo.
 
Marsteller was 2-for-3 in Game 2 – the only hitter from either team with multiple hits in the game. Both Leber and Bloomsburg starting pitcher Tara Baney fanned two from the circle.
 
Up Next:
Shippensburg travels to East Stroudsburg on Friday for a doubleheader with the Warriors. Game time is now 1 p.m. Please consult ESU's spectator policy at https://esuwarriors.com/news/2021/3/1/general-esu-announces-spectator-policy-improved-live-streaming-efforts-for-spring-sports.aspx.