Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Box Score Game One  |  Box Score Game Two

SHIPPENSBURG—The Bloomsburg University softball team dropped a pair of games to No. 17 Shippensburg University on Monday by scores of 2-0 and 6-5 in eight innings.
 
In game one the Huskies managed five hits, but Shippensburg pitcher Emily Estep was tough striking out eight and not walking a batter. Bloomsburg had two-out singles in the first and third innings, but did not score. In the fifth inning Lea Rehm (Bloomsburg/Bloomsburg) doubled with two outs, but was stranded when Estep got a pop out to end the frame.

The Huskies got a leadoff single from Mandi Baer (Douglassville/Daniel Boone) in the top of the sixth and she moved to second on a bunt with two outs, but Estep got a strikeout to end the inning. In the seventh the Huskies got a leadoff single from Taylor Parker (Dewart/Warrior Run), who was erased at second on a fielder's choice for the first out. After a fly ball for out number two, Rehm battled through a 13-pitch at-bat, fouling off seven straight pitches, before flying out to end the game.

Shippensburg scored one run in the bottom of the first when Hilary Lyons singled stole second and later scored on a throwing error. The Raiders got an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth when pinch-runner Julie Cramer stole second, moved to third on a fly out and scored on a ground ball.
 
Parker suffered the loss for the Huskies in game one giving up seven hits and striking out five.
 
In game two Shippensburg jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning. The Huskies got one back in the top of the third inning when Kayla McHale (Dillsburg/Northern) doubled leading off the inning, moved to third on a bunt, and scored on Hannah Moir (Mount Laurel, NJ/Lenape )'s single.
 
Bloomsburg went on top 5-2 in the sixth inning by scoring four times. Sarah Bertoni (Nanticoke/Greater Nanticoke Area) doubled to lead off with Valerie Carcasses (Barnegat, NJ/Barnegat) coming in to pinch run. After a bunt moved Carcasses to third, Taylor Parker (Dewart/Warrior Run) delivered an RBI single to left to tie the game at 2-2. Chrissy Belko (Old Forge/Old Forge) then homered to left to make it 4-2. After a pop out, McHale tripled to right field and scored on Rachel Fredell (Dingmans Ferry/Delaware Valley)'s single for a 5-2 lead.
 
Shippensburg rallied in the home half of the sixth inning scoring three times on four hits and making it a 5-5 game.

In the top of the seventh the Huskies had a runner at first with two outs, but could not score. Shippensburg nearly won it in the bottom of the seventh. With pinch runner Courtney Kane on second, Hillary Lyons singled to center. Belko fielded the ball for the Huskies and came up throwing and nailed Kane at the plate to force extra innings.
 
In the top of the eighth the Huskies got a two-out single from McHale, but Shippensburg got a grounder for the third out. Shippensburg started its half of the inning with a leadoff single by Liz Parkins. Pinch runner Kirstin McClune moved to second on a bunt and later scored on a single by Taylor Pattillo.
 
Estep got the win for the Raiders with two innings of relief, while Mallory Tomaschick suffered the loss in relief.
 
Offensively, McHale went 3-4 with two runs scored, while O'Connor, Belko, and Fredell all had two hits.
 
Bloomsburg goes to 10-7, 2-2 in the PSAC East, while Shippensburg improves to 17-3, 3-1 in the PSAC East.
 
The Huskies game with Mansfield on Tuesday has been postponed. Bloomsburg's next action is set for Friday against Kutztown starting at 2:30 p.m.