SHIPPENSBURG, PA - The Claflin Lady Panthers (31-13) put up a great overall effort, but the team opened the 2026 NCAA Division II Atlantic Region Softball Tournament with an 8-0 loss to the top-seeded host Shippensburg Raiders (39-16), Thursday afternoon. The ended an eight-game winning streak for the Lady Panthers and marked their first shutout loss since March.
The Lady Panthers had a tough day at the plate. In addition to being held scoreless, the Lady Panthers were held to three hits in the game. Claflin senior second base
Aniyah Jackson went one-for-three at the plate while freshman third base
Aryana Meadows went one-for-two.
Claflin junior
Sydra Pendleton (11-5) got the start and she threw all four innings for the Lady Panthers. She finished the game with one strikeout.
With the loss, the Lady Panthers fall to 31-13 and move to the elimination round of the tournament. The team will take on the losers of the #4 Glenville State/#5 Charleston (W.Va.) game at 2:30 p.m. today. The Lady Panthers will take the field tomorrow at 1:30 p.m.
For more information on Lady Panthers softball, contact the Claflin University Office of Athletics Media Relations at (803) 535-5548 or log on to
www.athletics.claflin.edu.
