Catholic too much for Juniata softball in doubleheader sweep

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Juniata College softball ran into the Landmark Conference's top offensive squad in the form of Catholic University of America, and dropped both ends of a conference twinbill against the Cardinals, 8-0 and 12-3, on Saturday afternoon at the CUA Softball Field.

Juniata (7-9, 0-2 Landmark) was held to just two hits in game one – a leadoff single by Rachel Smith (Martinsburg, Pa.) in the first inning, and another base hit by Ali Vogatsky (Johnstown, Pa./Central Cambria) with one out in the second. Vogatsky got as far as third with two outs, where she was stranded when a grounder to third ended the inning.

Catholic (13-5, 2-0 Landmark) posted two runs in the bottom of the first on Erin McMakin's two-run single into center field off Juniata starter Kelsea Decker (Waynesboro, Pa./Waynesboro).

The Cardinals tacked on single runs in the third and fourth innings, before closing out the game with a four-run uprising in the sixth. Nina Curto plated the game-ending runs with a two-out, two-run double into center field, allowing Catholic to get the win under an eight-run mercy rule.

Decker allowed eight runs on nine hits with six strikeouts, falling to 5-4 on the season with the loss. McMakin got the start in the circle for Catholic, and fanned eight Eagle batters in the two-hit complete game win.

In game two, Juniata managed just three hits off Catholic starter Kerri Apicella, while the Cardinals pounded out 12 runs on nine hits and four walks.

After taking a one-run lead in the first inning, Catholic blew the game open with a six-run second inning keyed by a pair of two-run singles off the bats of Taylor Stockinger and Megan Rizzi. The Cardinals tacked on one run in the third to take an 8-0 lead, and neither team was able to plate a run in the fourth.

Juniata rallied for three runs in the top of the fifth, taking advantage of a pair of Catholic errors. Lydia Gorba (Portage, Pa./Portage Area) got aboard with a leadoff single, with Erin Francis (Parkton, Md./Hereford) reaching on a hit-by-pitch and Smith advancing both runners when she got to first safely through an error by the Cardinal shortstop.

Paige Robertson (Altoona, Pa./Altoona Area) plated all three runners with a single into right field that was compounded by an error on the Cardinal right fielder.

Catholic ended the game with four runs in the bottom of the fifth, including a two-run double to center by Stockinger.

Smith went four-and-a-third innings in the circle for Juniata, allowing nine earned runs on nine hits in the loss. Apicella allowed just three hits in the win, while striking out seven batters.

Juniata returns to action on Wednesday, March 28, when the Eagles host Elizabethtown College at Weaver Park Field. First pitch is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.

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