By: Emma Monismith, sports information graduate assistant
SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. -- The Shippensburg University softball team opens its 2026 campaign in North Carolina this weekend. SU will face Catawba on Saturday and Wingate on Sunday.
Shippensburg posted a 36-22 record in 2025 and won the 2025 NCAA Division II Atlantic Region title to earn the program's third-ever trip to the NCAA Championships.
"Every season is a fresh start, but I think last year was probably one of the biggest learning opportunities that we've had in all of my time coaching here," said head coach
Alison Van Scyoc, who has led the Raiders since 2016.
The Raiders enter the season ranked No. 19 in the current National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Poll. The Raiders were ranked No. 7 in the NFCA Preseason Poll.
The Raiders return a strong core of experienced players who are looking to build off of last season.
"We had a great experience going all the way to the World Series, but this year we feel like we have some unfinished business," said senior
Caitlyn Martell. "Our lineup is really veteran this season, we know what that experience is like and we're just hungry to get back there."
In addition, the Raiders welcomed seven newcomers to the program.
"It's great to see underclassmen come in that are really talented athletes and it's great to see them work as hard as they do, because it pushes the upperclassmen to work hard as well," added senior
Rilee Ehrlacher. "We're all just keeping each other accountable and pushing each other every day."
Shippensburg will be in position to extend its momentum from past seasons as it navigates the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division. Last year, six of the eight teams that made the Atlantic Regional Tournament were from the PSAC Eastern Division.
Schedule
After returning from North Carolina, the Raiders will return to Robb Field for a doubleheader against IUP (March 6). The home slate continues with doubleheaders against No. 22 Pace (March 7) and Pitt-Johnstown (March 10).
SU will travel to Salem, Va., for a PSAC/MEC crossover weekend and face Charleston, West Liberty, Slippery Rock and Glenville State over the course of the weekend (March 14-15).
The Raiders will open PSAC Eastern Division play on Friday, March 20 with a doubleheader against East Stroudsburg.
Coaches
Alison Van Scyoc is in her tenth season as the head coach of the Shippensburg University softball program.
The Raiders have made four consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances and PSAC Tournament appearances. SU earned its first Atlantic Region Championship title in 21 years in 2025 and its first PSAC Championship title in 18 years in 2023.
Overall, Van Scyoc boasts 246 career victories.
Two-time National Player of the Year,
Hannah Marsteller, is back for her third year on the coaching staff and her first full season as the full-time assistant coach.
Emily Goshorn returns to work with the team's pitchers; the former Daktronics First Team All-American is in her third season overall as a member of the coaching staff.
Dina Beston has been a member of the coaching staff for each of Van Scyoc's ten seasons and is once again back to instruct the Raiders.
Notes
Shippensburg posted a 36-22 record in 2025; the 36 wins tied for the most since 2006.
Shippensburg enters the season with 23 players. SU returns 16 players from last season and welcomes seven newcomers.
Shippensburg returns starters at every position except for catcher for the 2026 season.
From an athletic eligibility perspective, the team has five seniors, seven juniors, four sophomores, and seven freshmen.
Among the returning players are four All-PSAC performers from 2025:
Caitlyn Martell,
Reagan Bauman,
Sarah Sabocsik and
Brie Wilmot.
Martell, a 2025 D2CCA All-Atlantic Region First Team selection, was fifth in the region in both hits (77) and total bases (114). Martell was one of two Raiders to start all 58 games and led the team with a .398 batting average.
Bauman, a 2025 All-PSAC Second Team selection as a designated player, posted a .264 batting average with 16 RBIs.
Sabocsik, a 2025 All-PSAC Second Team selection as an outfielder, ranked second on the team with a .379 batting average, her 17 doubles tied for second in the PSAC.
Wilmot, a 2025 All-PSAC Second Team selection as a first baseman, led the squad with nine home runs and 48 runs batted in. Wilmot was one of two Raiders to start all 58 games and recorded a .326 batting average.
Position Breakdown (This listing is tentative entering the season and subject to change)
Pitchers (6): Maddy Borowski,
Madalyn Dyer,
Mikayla Fontana,
Dani Hayward,
Mya Parkinson,
Kaira Zamadics
Catchers (4): Jillie Clark,
Emma Hussein,
Morgan Koehler,
Leah Schwalm
Infielders (6): Gianna Cimino,
Lindsey Haser,
Caitlyn Martell,
Chaunda Poulin,
Emilee Sullivan,
Brie Wilmot
Outfielders (4): Reagan Bauman,
Emily Lafferty,
Ryan Morse,
Sarah Sabocsik
Utility (3): Grace Ciochetto,
Rilee Ehrlacher,
Taylor Lawrence
Home Breakdown
Pennsylvania (19)
Reagan Bauman (Hatfield, Pa./Pennridge)
Maddy Borowski (Chalfont, Pa./Central Bucks South)
Jillie Clark (Crozet, Va./Western Albemarle)
Gianna Cimino (Lansdale, Pa./North Penn)
Grace Ciochetto (Havertown, Pa./Haverford)
Madalyn Dyer (Green Lane, Pa./Upper Perkiomen)
Rilee Ehrlacher (Allentown, Pa./Northampton Area)
Lindsey Haser (New Cumberland, Pa./Trinity)
Dani Hayward (Hamburg, Pa./Berks Catholic)
Morgan Koehler (Blandon, Pa./Fleetwood Area)
Taylor Lawrence (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Trinity)
Caitlyn Martell (Morrisville, Pa./Pennsbury)
Ryan Morse (Norristown, Pa./Norristown Area)
Sarah Sabocsik (Hatfield, Pa./North Penn)
Leah Schwalm (Quakertown, Pa./Quakertown Community)
Emilee Sullivan (Newville, Pa./Big Spring)
Brie Wilmot (Lansdale, Pa./North Penn)
Kaira Zamadics (Allentown, Pa./Northampton Area)
New Hampshire (1)
Chaunda Poulin (Sandown, N.H./Timberlane Regional)
New Jersey (2)
Mikayla Fontana (Florence, N.J./Northern Burlington)
Emily Lafferty (Marlton, N.J./Cherokee)
Virginia (1)
Emma Hussein (McLean, Va./Langley)
