Smith ties Juniata doubles record in doubleheader loss to Susquehanna

HUNTINGDON, Pa. – Juniata College sophomore Rachel Smith (Martinsburg, Pa./Central) picked up a pair of doubles over both ends of Saturday's Landmark Conference softball doubleheader against Susquehanna University, before the Eagles fell 12-4 and 3-0 to the visiting Crusaders at Weaver Park Field.

Smith's two doubles Saturday gives her 15 for the season, matching the Juniata single season record set by Brandy Preslovich in 2002.

Her first double came in the fourth inning of game one, plating Paige Robertson (Altoona, Pa./Altoona Area) who also got aboard with a double. Kelsea Decker (Waynesboro, Pa./Waynesboro Area) singled home Smith later in the frame, allowing Juniata to tie the game at 2-2 heading into the fifth inning.

Susquehanna exploded for seven runs in the top of the fifth, including a grand slam off the bat of freshman Alyssa Cantalini. The Eagles threatened to get some of those runs back in the bottom half of the frame, loading up the bases with a pair of singles and a walk. However the next two Juniata batters fouled out to right and struck out, allowing Susquehanna to get out of the jam.

The Crusaders tacked on three more runs in the top of the seventh, two of those crossing on Lisa Finizio's two-run single up the middle.

Juniata (9-16, 1-7 Landmark) answered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the frame, when Jen Ashcraft (Bellefonte, Pa./State College Area) led off with a double to right center. Erin Francis (Parkton, Md./Hereford) drew a walk to put runners on first and second, and Robertson singled to center allowing Ashcraft to score. Smith hit into a fielder's choice grounder that resulted in Robertson getting put out at second, but allowed Francis to score to make the final score 12-4.

Decker got the start for the Eagles and struck out six Crusaders while allowing 12 runs, all earned, on 13 hits with six walks. Susquehanna starter Morgan Lewis allowed all four Juniata runs, three of which were earned, on eight hits and two walks.

Game two was more of a showcase for pitching and defense by both teams, as Susquehanna (18-8, 5-1 Landmark) and Juniata each finished with just four hits in a 3-0 Crusader shutout.

Susquehanna posted single runs in both the first and second innings, with Finizio sacrificing home Brittany Murphy in the first inning while Stephanie Chlebove plated Cantalini on a base hit to center field in the second.

The Crusaders tacked on an insurance run in the sixth, when Finizio connected on a solo home run to right center field.

Susquehanna starter Allison Cullen carried a no-hitter into the fourth inning, when it was broken up by a Smith double to left center field. The Eagles got runners as far as second base in both the fifth and sixth innings, but could not drive in a run to break the shutout.

Smith got the start in the circle in game two, allowing all three runs on four hits.

Juniata returns to the diamond on Monday, April 16, when it travels to Cresson, Pa., to face Mount Aloysius College.

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