SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. -- The Shippensburg University softball team continued its non-conference slate Wednesday afternoon, splitting a doubleheader with Fairmont State. The Raiders won Game 1, 10-0 in five innings, while the visiting Fighting Falcons took Game 2, 6-1, at Robb Field.
 
Shippensburg (12-6) sparked early for eight hits and ten runs in the first two innings overall in the doubleheader, but solid defense and pitching by Fairmont State (15-8-1) held the Raiders to only six hits and one run the rest of the day.
 
Senior Aryanna Briddell led the Raiders in hits on the day, going 4-for-5 at the plate with two doubles and two singles. Briddell also added two RBIs and a run scored to her season totals.
 
Sophomore Emily Lafferty batted an even .500, producing three hits in six at bats. Lafferty scored two runs and stole two bases, moving her into second place in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) in that category, only behind Gannon's Emma Smerick.
 
Shippensburg travels to No. 12 East Stroudsburg at 1 p.m. Friday for a conference doubleheader at Creekview Park.
 
Game 1: SHIP 10, FAIRMONT STATE 0 (5 INNINGS)
 
After a quick top of the first inning, the Raiders got right to work in the bottom of the first. Lafferty opened the day with a leadoff single to right center, then stole second to immediately get into scoring position. Lafferty advanced to third on a groundout from sophomore Reagan Bauman.
 
A walk to junior Caitlyn Martell and a stolen base put two Raiders in scoring position for sophomore Sarah Sabocsik, who hit a sacrifice fly to center field that advanced Lafferty home for the 1-0 lead. A double down the left-field line by junior Rilee Ehrlacher brought Martell home, then a single by sophomore Brie Wilmot got Erlacher back to home plate for a 3-0 lead after one.
 
Three straight outs put the Raiders back on the offensive side and they produced five hits and seven runs in the second inning. The inning opened with a Briddell single to right field; she advanced to second off of a groundout from junior Emilee Sullivan. Lafferty hit down a bunt on the first pitch of her second at-bat to single, but a throwing error by catcher Abbie Keilholz sent the ball to the warning track in right field. Not only did Briddell score, but Lafferty sprinted around the bases to score as well for a 5-0 lead.
 
The inning continued with a single up the middle by Bauman, then a double to left center by Martell brought Bauman home to add another run. Back-to-back walks to Sabocsik and Erlacher loaded the bases, then a fielder's choice allowed Martell to plate another run.
 
Another walk to junior Lindsey Haser loaded the bases again, and a wild pitch allowed Erlacher to score another run. Briddell then singled to left field, bringing home Wilmot and Haser to reach double-digit runs and a 10-0 lead after two innings.
 
Neither team scored the rest of the way, with defenses taking the spotlight and the game ending in five innings via run rule.
 
Senior Alicia Ball pitched a complete game, recording her fourth win of the season, along with her first shutout. Ball struck out five batters, along with scattering just two hits and two walks.
 
Game 2: FAIRMONT STATE 6, SHIP 1
 
Game 2 featured three runs scored in the first inning, all coming from the Falcons. The three runs consisted of a single to right-center, a groundout to second base and a single to left field that gave the visitors the three-run lead.
 
After Lafferty led off with a single to second base, nine straight outs took the game to the top of the third inning. Fairmont State added another run on a single through the middle to lead 4-0.
 
In the bottom of the fourth inning, with one out, Martell smacked the first pitch of her at bat over the left field fence for a solo home run, her second of the season, to cut the lead down to three runs.
 
The Falcons added two more runs through the course of the game, while pitcher Delany Haller and the Fairmont defense held the Raiders to four hits after Martell's homer, winning Game 2 via a score of 6-1.
 
Senior Katelyn Minney started in the circle for the Raiders, pitching five innings, scattering nine hits and five runs. Minney struck out eight batters, which passed her previous career high of six against Pitt-Johnstown on March 18, 2022. Freshman Dani Hayward threw the final two innings.