Softball Splits Home Opener Against Mt. Aloysius

HUNTINGDON, Pa. – The Juniata softball team took a decisive 8-0 5-inning victory in game one against Mt. Aloysius but fell 7-2 in game two, settling for a split on their home-opening doubleheader Saturday.

Game One

The Eagles got the offense moving early and pushed for a 3-0 lead after the first inning. 

Paige Dennison (East Berlin, Pa. / Bermudian Springs) hit a lead-off single down the right field line and advanced to third on an error by the rightfielder. A bunt-single from Allie Baney (State College, Pa. / State College Area) brought Dennison in and put Juniata up 1-0 with nobody out. With Kerigan Ammerman (Alexandria, Pa. / Juniata Valley) at the plate, Baney stole second base. Ammerman then doubled out to right centerfield to bring Baney home. A sacrifice fly from Lindsey Kosicki (Patton, Pa.) brought in Ammerman to wrap up the Eagles' scoring in the first. 

In the bottom of the third, Baney ripped a double out to left field and advanced to third on an error from the secondbaseman. Ammerman would ground out to the shortstop but give Baney time to cross the plate. 

Holly Bettinger (Hummelstown, Pa. / Lower Dauphin) doubled to left centerfield to set up the next run for Juniata. With Amy Chen (Philadelphia, Pa. / Science Leadership Academy) pinch-running for Bettinger, Chrisi Lerchen (Annville, Pa. / Annville-Cleona) hit a single out to left field to bring in Chen. 

The Eagles defense quickly put away the Mounties again in the top of the fourth. 

With one out in the bottom half of the inning, Dennison singled out the left. Baney followed with a single to center. The duo pulled off a double steal to put two in scoring position with Ammerman at the plate. Ammerman hit a single out to right field and some miscommunication from the defense brought in two. Bettinger followed with an RBI-single out to right field to make it 8-0 Juniata. 

A scoreless top of the fifth would bring the game to a close and give Juniata the victory in game one. 

The Eagles totaled 12 hits and hit .500 against the Mounties. Baney led with a 3-for-3 effort at the plate. Ammerman and Dennison each went 2-for-3, with Ammerman knocking in four.

Lerchen started on the mound for the Eagles and went 5.0 innings, giving up just one hit on 70 pitches. Lerchen's record improves to 4-1 on the mound. 

Game Two

Mt. Aloysius got on the board first against the Eagles in game two and took a 1-0 lead into the bottom half of the second.

Juniata evened the score with some patience in the box. Bettinger started off the inning with a single to center. Kosicki followed with a single to move Bettinger to second. A sacrifice bunt from Ammerman moved runners into scoring position for Lerchen. Lerchen drew a walk to load the bases for the Eagles. With two outs, Brooke Walls (Mifflinburg, Pa. / Mifflinburg) walked and brought Bettinger home to tie the game at one.

The Mounties would get back on top in the fourth after a two-run blast from Bridget Yothers. They tacked on one more run to end the inning up 4-1. 

Heading into the bottom of the fifth, Juniata was looking at a four run deficit with the score 5-1. 

Dennison drew a walk to start the inning but would be out moments later on a fielder's choice that allowed Baney to reach first. Jennifer Carthew (New Paris, Pa. / Chestnut-Ridge) was then walked, advancing Baney to second. A single from Kosicki brought in Baney for the Eagles' final run of the game. 

Mt. Aloysius recorded two more runs in the top of the sixth to take the victory 7-2.

Sarah Sotelo (Fairfax, Va. / Paul VI Catholic) started on the mound for Juniata. Sotelo tossed 4.0 innings, gave up seven hits and struckout one batter. Maddie Garrick (Mechanicsburg, Pa. / Mechanicsburg) came in as relief and pitched the final three innings. Garrick recorded four strikeouts and gave up three hits.

Juniata travels to Pitt.-Greensburg Tues. March 22 for a doubleheader against the Panthers starting at 3:00 p.m.