SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. -- The Shippensburg University softball team had strong performances in the circle to sweep Mansfield and clinch a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Tournament berth. The Raiders won 3-2, in Game 1, and 4-2 in Game 2, on a sunny but chilly Tuesday afternoon at Robb Field.
 
Shippensburg (26-15, 18-10 PSAC East) had to rally back to win Game 1 and kept its composure in Game 2, as Game 2's win came down to the late innings. SU's pitching came out strong after a rocky start in Game 1.
 
Designated player and relief pitcher, freshman Kaira Zamadics entered with two outs in the top of the first inning and retired 14 consecutive batters in a row, and did not let Mansfield (10-32, 1-29) have a hit until the top of the sixth. Zamadics only allowed one hit while in the circle and struck out five Mountaineers, one shy from tying her career high that she set yesterday against Holy Family. In Game 2, junior Maelynn Leber had her second straight complete game, allowing just seven hits and two runs while striking out five to match her season high.
 
Junior Morgan Lindsay led the team going 4-for-6, including two doubles and two RBIs. Graduate Hannah Marsteller went 3-for-5, including a double and a walk. Junior Taylor Myers had three hits, while both junior Alyssa Nehlen and sophomore Katelyn Minney had a hit and an RBI.
 
Shippensburg will host West Chester on Friday to conclude its home schedule at Robb Field at 1 p.m.
 
Game 1: Shippensburg 3, Mansfield 2
 
Mansfield struck first with a two-run double to right field to take a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning. The Raiders answered back in the bottom of the first with an RBI single by Lindsay. The Raiders had the bases loaded but were unable to tie the score.
 
SU had a two-out rally in the bottom of the second to score two runs. Freshman Emilee Sullivan and Myers singled to get on base, and during Marsteller's at bat, Sullivan scored on a wild pitch. Marsteller then reached base on an error by Mansfield that brought Myers home.
 
Shippensburg was held to only one Raider reaching base for the rest of the game as Mansfield's Danielle Goff got the Raiders out mainly from groundouts.
 
Game 2: Shippensburg 4, Mansfield 2
 
Shippensburg had another two-out rally in the bottom of the first inning. Marsteller doubled to right field and was brought home by Lindsay after she ripped a single to right field. Minney had an RBI single to left center to bring Lindsay home and a 2-0 lead.
 
Mansfield tied the game in the top of third off a fielder's choice RBI and a wild pitch. Both teams were unable to get any runners on base until the top of the sixth, when the Mountaineers looked to threaten. Mansfield had back-to-back singles with two outs, but an infield fielder's choice by the Raiders stranded the Mountaineers on base.
 
In the bottom of the sixth, Marsteller started off the Raiders with a single down the left field line, followed by a double by Lindsay to right field. Marsteller scored on Nehlen's fielder's choice groundout, while pinch runner sophomore Emma Mackulin scored on a wild pitch to take a 4-2 lead.