On a sunny Saturday morning at Veterans Park, the Shippensburg University softball team won its fourth Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Softball Championship, marking their first victory since 2005. The Raiders triumphed with a 7-4 win over Bloomsburg, scoring in four of the six innings played.
Shippensburg (32-18) took a 2-0 lead in the first inning, with a runner on base after an intentional walk to graduate Hannah Marsteller. Freshman Caitlyn Martell then hit a home run to left field, earning her the title of the 2023 PSAC Tournament MVP.
In the third inning, the Raiders secured two runners on base with back-to-back walks, followed by a single by freshman Kaira Zamadics that loaded the bases. Freshman Emilee Sullivan then hit an RBI single to center field, increasing their lead to 3-0.
The fourth inning saw another impressive hit by Martell, who hit a three-run home run after two runners were intentionally walked. While the Raiders had two runners on base in the same inning, they were unable to score more runs.
In the fifth inning, the Raiders scored one more run with an RBI-single to left field by Marsteller, bringing junior Taylor Myers home who had singled to up the middle.
Although Bloomsburg fought back in the sixth inning, scoring four unearned runs, center fielder Myers prevented a home run by Bella Culp, securing the third out. The Raiders needed just three more outs in the seventh inning, and senior Emma Flattery, who came out of the bullpen, struck out two batters and caught a pop-up for the final out.
Zamadics earned her first tournament win, throwing 5.2 innings, while Flattery got her third save of the season with 1.1 innings played.
With this victory, the Raiders have qualified for the NCAA Atlantic Regional and will await their seeding, which will be announced on Monday via a selection show on ncaa.com at 10 a.m.
