Lady Raiders Remain Undefeated, Defeat Catawba 2-0 and 12-9

SALISBURY, N.C. - The Shippensburg University softball team remained undefeated on Sunday, defeating Catawba College, 2-0, in game one and 12-9 in game two.

In game one, junior Kelley Tiesi (Baltimore, Md./Catholic School of Baltimore) earned her fourth victory of the year with her second-straight one-hit shutout. She is 4-0 this season.

In the second inning, senior Mary McKee (Bellefonte, Pa./Bellefonte) hit a two-run homer down the left field line for Shippensburg's only runs of the game.

The Lady Raiders (8-0) jumped out to a 12-3 lead in the second game through the top of the sixth inning before the Indians scored six runs in their final two at-bats to make the final score close.

Shippensburg held a 5-3 lead through the first four innings, breaking the game open with a four-run fifth inning and a three-run sixth inning.

Senior Sarah Costa (Laurel, Md./Atholton) began the fifth inning with a home run to left center field. Senior Amanda Collins (Pasadena, Md./Archbishop Spalding) and sophomore Ali Morris (Warrington, Pa./Central Bucks East) each got hits to reach base and were driven in when McKee singled to center field. Singles from senior Liz Corr (Doylestown, Pa./Central Bucks West) and senior Jess Miller (Easton, Pa./Easton) loaded the bases and senior Beth Rudai (Glen Mills, Pa./University High, Ill.) walked to send home McKee for the final run of the inning.

The scoring barrage continued in the sixth as senior Jaime Dacey (Langhonre, Pa./Archbishop Wood) reached base after being hit by a pitch and Costa singled to left to put two on. A fielding error by the shortstop put senior Amanda Collins (Pasadena, Md./Archbishop Spalding) on first and sent Dacey around to score. Senior Fawn Gaidos (Lebanon, Pa./Cedar Crest) sent Costa home with an RBI-single while sophomore Heather Chantiles (Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin) grounded out, scoring Collins.

Catawba began its comeback when Katie Phelps hit a two-run home run in the sixth inning. In the seventh, Lacey Waldroop doubled to right center to drive a run in, before Jessica Rivera hit a triple to send home two runs. Lizz Dunkman had an RBI single before junior Caitlin MacPherson (Hemlock, N.Y./Monroe Community College) got Phelps to ground out to end the game.

Costa led Shippensburg at the plate, going 3-for-5 with three RBI and scoring two runs in the game. Freshman Danielle Shields (Laurel, Del./Sussex Tech) went five innings and gave up three runs in picking up her third victory of the year. MacPherson made her second appearance of the year, pitching in the final two innings.

Shippensburg next take the field at the Rebel Spring Games in Kissimmee, Florida. The Lady Raiders play twelve games from March 5 through March 11, beginning with the University of South Dakota State on March 5.

- Lady Raider Softball -