A 13-4 run differential through two games against a team tied for second in PSAC play in win percentage could be considered a statement.
The Shippensburg University softball team rode strong pitching from senior Liz Parkins and four runs off of homers to sweep 18-8 West Chester in double-header action on Friday afternoon from Robb Field. SU won the first matchup 7-1 and the second 6-3.
The Raiders’ 13 runs came against a Golden Ram’s lineup that had allowed three runs over its last eight games and four runs in conference play on the season. The PSAC East matchup guarantees Shippensburg (8-5, 3-3 PSAC East) a series sweep against West Chester at minimum, a year removed from losing 3-of-4 versus the Golden Rams.
Parkins, 3-1, 2.02 ERA, finished the day with a win and a save, allowing two hits and picking up four strikeouts while walking two in a complete-game start in the first contest. In the second game she took over for junior Quincy Lewis in the fifth inning and retired the final eight batters, totaling three strikeouts in her fourth career save. Parkins now holds a 3-4 record against West Chester through 41.1 innings and seven starts, sporting a 2.88 ERA and 29 strikeouts against the Golden Rams.
Senior shortstop Taylor Weisman and senior first-baseman Maddie Justice each homered for the Lady Raiders in game 2, the former with a solo shot in the fifth inning and the latter with a three-run bomb in the second. Weisman finished with five RBI’s on the day, demonstrating clutch situational hitting, and Justice went 3-for-4 at the plate with two walks, a sacrifice, a stolen base and four RBI’s.
Senior Tyler Thompson came into the game with five hits on the season, but put together a solid day as the leadoff hitter, totaling four hits, four stolen bases and scoring twice.
Lewis improved her record to 4-1 and her ERA to 3.11 in her game 2 victory, pitching 4.1 innings while earning a strikeout and giving up four walks.
Shippensburg returns to action on Sunday as the team travels to Millersville (8-11, 0-4 PSAC East) for a 2:30/4:30 double-header.
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