The Shippensburg University softball team had its eight-game winning streak come to an end on Saturday with a pair of one-run losses at Kutztown, falling to the Golden Bears by scores of 5-4 and 3-2 in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division action from windy North Campus Field.
 
Shippensburg (22-8, 11-5 PSAC East) held a one-run lead in the sixth inning of Game 1 and a one-run lead in the fifth inning of Game 2. Kutztown (19-12, 7-5), playing for the first time this week, was able to rally against the beleaguered Raiders, who were playing their third doubleheader in the last three days.
 
Sophomore Emilee Sullivan had a team-high three hits – all singles – and scored twice. Fellow sophomore Caitlyn Martell and freshman Sarah Sabocsik each had two hits, including a double, a walk, and an RBI.
 
SU had 12 hits and nearly hit a couple of home runs if not for the strong winds keeping some deep fly balls in the field of play. The Raiders also drew eight walks.
 
KU had 14 hits, including a pair of solo home runs in the bottom of the fifth inning in Game 2 that flipped a 2-1 deficit into its eventual 3-2 victory. The Golden Bears benefited from five walks and six hit-by-pitches, and also maintained their normal aggression on the basepaths by forcing the issue with five stolen bases in six attempts.
 
Junior Alicia Ball fell to 12-2 with the Game 1 loss, scattering five runs (four earned) in 6.1 innings. She walked three, hit four batters, and struck out three.
 
Ball was ahead of the Golden Bears in the bottom of the sixth in Game 1, 3-2, but a sinking line drive by Emily Henn fell in front of junior right fielder Katelyn Minney and went for a two-run triple. It was the first extra-base hit allowed by Ball in her last eight outings and just the fifth extra-base hit she has allowed all season.
 
Freshman Madalyn Dyer had another excellent outing, throwing all six innings in Game 2 and allowing just three runs (two earned) on four hits – walking two and striking out six. The two solo home runs against her in the fifth inning proved to be the difference. It was her first loss of the season.
 
Shippensburg remains busy with four more doubleheaders next week. The first is at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Lock Haven.