The Shippensburg University softball team split a non-conference doubleheader with Shepherd University on Wednesday afternoon at Robb Field, falling 8–7 in Game 1 before taking Game 2 by a score of 1–0.
Shippensburg (16–10, 4–2 PSAC) jumped out to a 7–1 lead by the third inning of Game 1, but Shepherd (20-10) fought all the way back to take an 8–7 lead in the sixth inning. In Game 2, junior Taryn Wilson threw a complete-game shutout to help the Raiders come away with a split.
After Shepherd took an early 1–0 lead, SU responded with a two-run first inning and a four-run second inning.
Sophomore Micaela Ghanayem got the Raiders on the board with a two-RBI single in the bottom of the first. Senior Chloe Collins followed with an RBI single in the bottom of the second, and freshman Courtney Coy extended the lead to 5–1 with a two-RBI single of her own.
An RBI single from senior Tara Bicko and a run scored by sophomore Meghan Klee on a wild pitch pushed the lead to 7–1.
The Rams broke out with five runs in the fourth to narrow SU’s lead to one. A pair of bunt singles in the sixth put Shepherd ahead for good as the Raiders were unable to mount a late rally.
“We kind of felt like we gave them the first game,” SU head coach Alison Van Scyoc said. “We had an opportunity to respond and take advantage of the second game.”
The Raiders did take advantage of Game 2 behind a standout pitching performance from Wilson. She allowed just two hits over seven innings of work to pick up her 13th win of the season.
Wilson’s effort on the mound garnered high praise from coach Van Scyoc for her shutout victory in the circle.
“She keeps hitters so off-balance with her offspeed pitches,” Van Scyoc said. “She just has this mental edge that gives her a one-up on the hitter to start with.”
SU pushed across just one run of support for Wilson, but that one run was all they needed. Bicko led off the fourth inning with a double, and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by sophomore Kayla Bonawitz. Collins then brought Bicko in for the eventual game-winning run with a sacrifice fly to center.
“It was the execution of the little things,” Van Scyoc said. “You get the leadoff batter on, bunt her over, and have a sacrifice fly to score her.”
Shepherd pitcher Taylor Stocks was fnatastic in her own right on Wednesday, only allowing one hit in the Game 2 loss.
The doubleheader split kept the Raiders in second place in the PSAC East.
SU will travel to take on West Chester (22–9, 7–1 PSAC) on Friday in an afternoon doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.
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