The Shippensburg University softball team picked up a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division doubleheader sweep at Shepherd on Tuesday afternoon, defeating the Rams by scores of 3-0 and 5-0 at Sara Cree Field.
Shippensburg (14-6, 4-2 PSAC East) got back in the win column thanks to shutouts by
Dani Hayward and
Kaira Zamadics.
It is the first time that the Raiders have won both ends of a conference doubleheader by shutout in nearly 20 years, dating back to April 11, 2006 (1-0 and 2-0 wins over East Stroudsburg).
Hayward pitched her second shutout of the season and fourth of her career in Game 1. Zamadics, who was making her first start in the circle since February 2025, delivered her first career shutout and just her second career complete game.
The Raiders totaled 11 hits, plating eight runs, while holding Shepherd (6-11, 1-4 PSAC East) recorded just seven singles and no extra-base hits on the day.
Lindsey Haser led the Raider offense with three hits, recording three singles in Game 2.
Emilee Sullivan and
Rilee Ehrlacher added two hits, both recording a hit in each game. Ehrlacher hit her third home run of the season in the first game and added a single in the second. Sullivan totaled two singles with two RBIs.
Seven Raiders recorded at least one hit on the day.
The only other occasion in the last 20 years in which SU posted shutouts in both games of a doubleheader came on April 13, 2022 in which the Raiders won at Bowie State by scores of 8-0 and 6-0.
Shippensburg will be back in action on Saturday at West Chester with first pitch at 1 p.m.
Game 1: SHIP 3, SHEPHERD 0
The first inning featured a combined five strikeouts from Hayward (two) and Shepherd ace Madelayne Ruffner (three). The Rams got a runner on after a single, but Hayward ended the inning with a strikeout.
Neither team had another baserunner until the top of the fourth, when
Caitlyn Martell reached first base off a Shepherd error. Two Ruffner strikeouts ended the inning.
With two outs in the top of the fifth, Ehrlacher launched the eighth pitch of her at-bat over the left-field fence for a solo shot to put the Raiders on the board.
The Rams led off with a single in the bottom of the sixth, but the Raider defense ended the inning.
Leah Schwalm opened the top of the seventh with a walk. With two outs,
Sarah Sabocsik drew a walk and Ehrlacher struck out but reached first on a wild pitch. Sullivan then came up to bat with the bases loaded and hit a single to right center to bring in a pair of runs and make it 3-0.
Hayward struck out two batters in the bottom of the seventh to secure the Raider win.
The two teams combined for only four hits, two from each team.
Hayward pitched a complete game in the circle, striking out five batters and not giving up a walk. She allowed just two hits, her lowest total allowed in a full seven-inning game. The last time Ship faced Shepherd on April 9, 2025, Hayward only allowed three hits.
For Shepherd, Ruffner struck out 14 batters while scattering just two hits.
Game 2: SHIP 5, SHEPHERD 0
Martell opened Game 2 with a leadoff walk, followed by a bunt single from
Gianna Cimino. Bauman reached on a fielder's choice to score Martell and make it 1-0 in the top of the first.
Lindsey Haser and Martell hit back-to-back singles to open the second inning. Schwalm reached based on a fielder's choice to make the bases loaded for the Raiders. Bauman tripled to right field to clear the bases and make it 4-0.
Sullivan and Ehrlacher singled in the top of the fifth, but the Ram defense kept the score at 4-0.
The Rams started the bottom of the fifth with a single and had two runners on after a hit by pitch. A pair of ground outs and a fly ball to right center ended the Shepherd threat.
The Raiders scored their last run of the day in the top of the seventh inning. Haser got on base after her third single of the day followed by Martell drawing a walk. Schwalm recorded an RBI single to make it 5-0.
Zamadics got the win in the circle for the Raiders, recording a strikeout and scattering five hits. It was not only her first career shutout, it was also her first pitching win since her freshman season in 2023.
Haser went 3-for-4 at the plate, recording three singles. Seven Raiders recorded at least one hit.
