SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. -- The Shippensburg University softball team continued its winning ways at home Saturday afternoon with a sweep of a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division doubleheader against Millersville, 6-1 and 7-6, at Robb Field.
 
Shippensburg (18-6, 7-3 PSAC East) cruised to victory in Game 1 behind a dominant outing from junior ace Alicia Ball, and bounced back from a big, game-tying five-run Millersville (12-13, 3-5) rally in the top of the sixth to score a walk-off victory in the nightcap.
 
The Raider lineup pounded out 18 hits over the course of the doubleheader. Senior Taylor Myers led the way from the leadoff spot, finishing 4-for-7 with two RBI and two runs scored.
 
Sophomore Caitlyn Martell and freshman Reagan Bauman were the Raiders' top run producers. Martell drove in four runs on six hits, including a Game 1 homer. Bauman tallied three RBIs on three hits, highlighted by the game-winning RBI single in the nightcap.
 
Shippensburg will host Mansfield (weather permitting) for a doubleheader Tuesday beginning at 2 p.m.
 
Game 1: Shippensburg 6, Millersville 1
 
Ball struck out six and held the Marauders to just four hits and one run in a complete game victory in the opener – her tenth victory for the Raiders this season.
 
Millersville opened the scoring in the top of the first inning, plating its only run. Sam Fried capitalized on a hit-by-pitch, advancing to second on a wild pitch, and then to third off a groundout. Gabby D'Ottavio flied out to right field, allowing Fried to advance home on a sacrifice fly.
 
In the bottom of the third, Myers got on base for the Raiders with a first-pitch single to left. Martell launched the second pitch of her at-bat over the left field fence for a two-run home run – her sixth of the season – to give SU the lead after three innings.
 
Shippensburg continued to add on, scoring four more runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. After sophomore Emilee Sullivan and Bauman each singled, freshman Emily Lafferty hit a single to shortstop, advancing Bauman to third and Sullivan home to extend the Raider's lead to 3-1.
 
Senior Alyssa Nehlen tripled to right field, bringing home Lafferty and Bauman to bring the Raider lead to four. A fielding error by the center fielder allowed senior Morgan Lindsay to reach first and for Nehlen to touch home plate for the sixth run of the day for SU.
 
Neither team would score the rest of the way, with Ball throwing three strikeouts over the last three frames and the Raider defense preventing the Marauder offense from establishing momentum.
 
Game 2: Shippensburg 7, Millersville 6
 
The Raiders opened Game 2 with a trio of runs in the bottom of the second inning.
 
Nehlen worked a walk with the bases loaded to plate the initial run. Myers followed with an RBI single and Martell drove in a run on a fielder's choice to put the Raiders in front 3-0.
 
The Marauders answered with a run in the next half inning before SU rallied for three more in the fourth, with Myers and freshman Brie Wilmot delivering RBI knocks.
 
Freshman Madalyn Dyer was lights out until the Marauders pieced together a five-run rally in the sixth.
 
After SU threatened to score in the sixth, Bauman singled through the right side to drive home Wilmot – who began the seventh with a base hit – with the game-winning run.
 
Junior Katelyn Minney earned the win in relief, allowing 0 runs in 1.2 innings.