SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – The Fairmont State softball team (1-1) split a doubleheader in the season-opening games versus Shippensburg (1-1) on Friday (Feb. 10) at Robb Field in Shippensburg, Pa.
 
In game two, freshman pitcher Emma Gates twirled a complete-game, seven-inning three-hit shutout that led the Falcons to a 1-0 win over the Raiders. Gates punched out three batters and did not surrender a walk in her first collegiate outing.
 
Game One – SHIP 5, FSU 0
Emily Riggs drew a walk to lead off the second frame and was moved to second base on a groundout. Courtney Moyer drew the second walk of the inning and put runners at second and first with two outs. The Raiders got out of the jam and the game remained scoreless. After stranding a runner in scoring position in the first inning, Caitlyn Kassay sat the Raiders down in order in innings two and three. Kassay induced a Shippensburg fielder's choice to leave the Raiders scoreless through four innings.
 
Moyer reached base for the second time with an infield single to lead off the top of the fifth. Kassay walked and Bella Hess was hit by a pitch to load the bases for Fairmont State. The Raiders managed to escape the inning without surrendering a run and kept the Falcons off the scoreboard. Kassay continued to deal and retired the Raiders in order in the fifth.
 
Abbie Keilholz smoked a double with two outs in the sixth but was not brought home. Shippensburg broke through in the bottom of the sixth when Hannah Marsteller drove home a run on a fielder's choice. The Raiders tacked on four additional runs after a trio of errors by the Falcons. The home team won game one, 5-1.
 
Game Two – FSU 1, SHIP 0
Hannah Workman punched a single through the right side with one out in the opening frame and stole second base. Riggs advanced her to third base but Workman did not cross home plate in the inning. Gates recorded a strikeout and a ground out with a runner on second base to end the opening inning.
 
Keilholz singled to right centerfield with one out in the second and continued her productive day at the dish. Mackenzie Maddy delivered a two-out triple to centerfield and drove Keilholz home from first base. Maddy was cut down at the plate and the Falcons led 1-0.
 
Gates surrendered SU's only extra-base hit of the contest to start the second inning. She worked her way out of the inning and kept Fairmont State in the lead. A pair of Shippensburg hitters were plucked by pitches in the fourth inning that loaded the bases with one out. Gates got a clutch strikeout on three pitches to get the second out of the inning. On a 3-2 pitch, Shippensburg hit a ground ball to Riggs, who threw out the batter at first base and Gates escaped out of the inning unscathed.
 
Mikayla Moore cranked a double to center field with two outs in the fifth and Judeah Morris laid down a bunt single to put the Falcons at first in third. Fairmont State left Moore and Morris on base. Shippensburg singled with two outs in the fifth, but Gates induced a groundout and the game moved to the final two innings.
 
Riggs led the sixth inning off with a base hit up the middle. Peyton Wetherholt delivered consecutive hits for the Falcons. Shippensburg retired the next three Fairmont State hitters to end the top of the sixth. The Raiders went three-up three-down in the sixth inning. Moore drew up a one-out walk in the seventh inning, but the Falcons did not score in the seventh. Gates kept the Raiders' bats quiet in the seventh inning and sat the Raiders down in order to finish the complete game.
 
Up Next
The Falcons and the Raiders will play another doubleheader tomorrow (Feb. 11) beginning at 1 p.m. from Shippensburg.