Softball Drops Landmark Doubleheader to Scranton

SCRANTON, Pa.- Juniata softball scored a pair of runs in both games of their doubleheader with Scranton but it was not enough as the Royals won both games on Saturday afternoon. Scranton won the first game 7-2 and the second by the score of 5-2.

In Game one, the two teams were scoreless after the first two innings of play. Juniata got on the board first in the top of the third. Chrisi Lerchen (Annville, Pa./Annville-Cleona) led off with a single to center field. Paige Dennison (East Berlin, Pa./Bermudian Springs) got on base as she was hit by a pitch. Allie Baney (State College, Pa./State College Area) laid down a sacrifice bunt to move runners to second and third. Kerigan Ammerman (Alexandria, Pa./Juniata Valley) reached on fielder's choice and Lerchen was out at home while Dennison advanced to third. Dennison then scored on a wild pitch and Ammerman eventually stole third base. Holly Bettinger (Hummelstown, Pa./Lower Dauphin) reached on an error by the Scranton shortstop that scored Ammerman and the Eagles were ahead 2-0.

The Royals scored three runs in the fourth inning to go up 3-2. Juniata was still in the game up until the Scranton portion of the sixth inning. Starting pitcher Lerchen got the first batter to pop out. She allowed two singles and hit a batter to load the bases. Lerchen then induced another pop out to get the second out of the inning. The Royals got their big opportunity when Jenna Snyder hit a grand slam homerun to left field to break the game open for Scranton.

Lerchen went six innings for the Eagles. She gave up six hits and seven runs (five earned) while striking out one batter. At the plate, she was 2-for-3.

In the second game, the Royals scored once in the first inning to take the early lead. Juniata answered back as Lindsey Kosicki (Patton, Pa./Cambria Heights) reached on a fielder's choice that scored Abby Ebright (Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin East). The Eagles took the lead in the third inning as Bettinger reached on a fielding error that scored Ammerman.

Scranton tacked on four runs in the bottom of the third to go ahead 5-2. Neither team would score for the rest of the game as the Royals came away with the win.

Alyssa Fasolo (Altoona, Pa./Altoona Area) started in the circle for the Eagles. She went two innings and gave up five hits, four earned runs, and one walk. She was relieved by Maddie Garrick (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Mechanicsburg) who surrendered three hits, one earned run, and two walks. She struck out three batters.

Ammerman was 2-for-3 with a run scored and a stolen base. Ebright went 1-for-3 with a double and a run scored.

Juniata returns to West End Field when they host Penn State Altoona on Tuesday. The first game of the doubleheader begins at 3:00 pm with the second game starting around 5:00 pm.