Eagles Complete Comeback to Split Doubleheader With Lions

HARRISBURG, PA- Down 7-1 heading into the fifth inning, the Juniata softball team scored 10 runs in the final three innings of play as the Eagles defeated Penn State Harrisburg 11-8 in the second game of a doubleheader on Tuesday afternoon. Juniata totaled 15 hits with every starter getting at least one knock.

JC took the lead in the second inning on a Chrisi Lerchen (Annville, PA/Annville-Cleona) RBI double. The Lions countered with runs to go up 3-1.

Harrisburg scored four times in the bottom of the fourth to go up 7-1. Juniata loaded the bases in fifth. Paige Dennison (East Berlin, PA/Bermudian Springs) grounded out to second base for the first out that scored Lerchen. Lindsey Kosicki (Patton, PA/Cambria Heights) reached on an error by the shortstop and Brooke Ridenour (Thurmont, MD/Catoctin) came home to make it 7-3. Holly Bettinger (Hummelstown, PA/Lower Dauphin) walked and Katie Schroeder (Kempton, PA/Kutztown) got on base with a fielder's choice to score Kerigan Ammerman (Alexandria, PA/Juniata Valley). After a Natalya Sizdahkhani (Gaithersburg, MD/Quince Orchard) single to load the bases, Brooke Walls (Mifflinburg, PA/Mifflinburg) singled to bring home Bettinger and Juniata was back in the game it as it trailed 7-5.

The Eagles' big inning happened in the sixth. Ridenour led off with a single and Ammerman followed with a single. Dennison walked to load the bases. Kosicki's single brought Ridenour in. Bettinger smacked a double to score Dennison and Ammerman and give Juniata an 8-7 lead.  Schroeder grounded out to short to score Kosicki and Sizdahkhani's single brought home Bettinger.

Ridenour scored on an error in the top of the seventh to increase the Eagle lead to 11-7. The Lions threated in the bottom of the seventh as they had two runners on with no outs. Lerchen got a groundout and then another which scored a harmless run. She got the last out to preserve the JC victory.

Lerchen pitched seven innings and gave up 11 hits eight runs (six earned), two walks, and struck out two. At the plate, she batted 2-for-4 with a double, a run scored, and a RBI.

Bettinger also had a double and finished 2-for-4 with three runs scored. Ammerman was 2-for-4 with a pair of runs scored. Schroeder batted 2-for-5 with a run and two RBIs. Sizdahkhani picked up two hits a RBI.

The Lions took a 1-0 lead in the first game. The Eagles tied it up in the fourth on an Alicia Regnault (Bridgewater, NJ/Bridgewater Raritan) RBI single. Harrisburg tacked on six runs in the bottom half to go up 6-1.

The Eagles chipped away at their deficit in the sixth inning. Kosicki was hit by  pitch to lead off. Bettinger singled to put runners on first and second with no outs. Schroeder singled and a error by the Lions leftfielder allowed both Kosicki and Bettinger to score and Juniata now only trailed 6-3. JC looked to add another run in the inning was baserunners on first and second but Ridenour lined out to second base and the inning was over.

Harrisburg was able to push two runs across in the sixth inning to lead 9-3. With one out in the top of the seventh, Dennison walked and Kosicki's single moved her to second. Bettinger hit a deep fly to left field, which allowed Kosicki to go to second. Dennison's attempt to move to third was denied as it was ruled she left the base early and the Eagles threat ended with the Lions winning 9-3.

Bettinger pitched into the fourth inning and gave up 12 hits, seven run (six earned), walked one, and struck out two. She fared better at the plate with a 2-for-4 performance and a run scored.

Juniata returns to West End Field on Saturday for its final home games of the season. The Eagles host Catholic with the first game starting at 1 p.m. and the second one starting around 3 p.m.