Softball Surges to 9-4 with Sweep of Shippensburg

Junior Sierra Wagner, who hit 3 for 5 and drove in 5 runs against Shippensburg. Photo Credit / Tory Stella
Junior Sierra Wagner, who hit 3 for 5 and drove in 5 runs against Shippensburg. Photo Credit / Tory Stella
Junior Sierra Wagner, who hit 3 for 5 and drove in 5 runs against Shippensburg.
Photo Credit / Tory Stella

By Ronald Hanaki

Sports Editor

Ship happens, and this time, it happened to Ship.

On a cloudy and cold Tuesday, March 24, ESU’s softball team completed a road doubleheader sweep of their PSAC opener against the Shippensburg Raiders 7-4 and 9-3 to improve their overall record to 9-4.

The Warriors are now 2-0 in early PSAC play.

In the first game, super frosh Mary Wallick hit a lead-off home run to put ESU up 1-0. That was Wallick’s first career home run.

It was Earl Weaver who said that the key to winning games is pitching, fundamentals, and three-run homers. The Warriors would prove that adage true.

In the third inning, ESU erupted for 4 runs behind senior first baseman Cara McNeil’s three-run home run to take a commanding 5-0 lead.

In total, ESU belted 15 hits on their way to a 7-4 win.

Sophomore starting pitcher Rachael Liguori pitched her fourth complete game. She gave up 4 runs (2 earned) on 7 hits to improve her mark to 4-1. Liguori has a Bob Gibson-like 0.86 ERA.

In the second game of the doubleheader, freshman third baseman Mary Wallick had the best game of her young career. Wallick went 5 for 5 scoring 3 runs and stealing 3 bases to power the Warriors to a 9-3 win.

Junior Sierra Wagner also had a monster game. Wagner hit 3 for 5 and drove in 5 runs.

Freshman right fielder Katherine Liedberg went 2 for 4 with 1 RBI and 3 runs scored.

As a team, ESU outslugged Shippensburg 11 hits to 8 hits. In the two games, the Warriors bludgeoned the Raiders with 26 hits.

Shippensburg also imploded in the second game by committing 4 errors.

Junior starting pitcher Allison Mende scattered 5 hits in 5 innings and only gave up 2 runs in the softball-equivalent of a quality start for the Warriors.

Junior Amanda Carlin came in to pitch 2 innings in relief to seal the win.

Pending the weather, ESU is scheduled to play a home doubleheader against Millersville University later today, March 27, at 2:30 PM.

Email Ronald at:

rhanaki@live.esu.edu