Eagles Split to Hand Bearcats First Loss of the Season

LATROBE, Pa.- The Juniata softball team was able to take one win from their Tuesday doubleheader at St. Vincent College, losing game one by a score of 9-6, before a strong game two performance earned them a 10-5 victory.

Juniata started the day in good position, with starter Cate Baran (Tyrone, Pa. / Tyrone) tossing five innings while allowing only one run on five hits during her initial stint in the circle. The Eagles' offense steadily produced runs during that time, stretching out to a 6-1 lead by the top of the sixth inning. Five errors from St. Vincent aided Juniata in bringing runs across, with four of their runs being unearned.

A pitching change proved costly for the Eagles, as after Baran exited, the Bearcats found their rhythm at the plate. St. Vincent exploded for eight runs in the bottom of the sixth inning and notched seven of their ten hits for the game. After a grand slam gave the Bearcats their three-run advantage, Baran returned to the circle to get the final two outs in the inning. The Eagles could not mount any further offense in the top of the seventh and took the loss.

Juniata's offense would come out firing on all cylinders for game two, led by senior Maya McLeod (San Diego, Calif. / La Jolla Country Day). McLeod continued to make her case as one of the premier hitters in the Landmark this season, launching her fourth home run of the season to give Juniata a 2-0 lead in the top of the first. She would finish the day hitting 5 for 8 combined between the two games, with four of her hits going for extra bases. She also tallied four runs scored and five RBIs on the day. Baran also hit well in game two, going 2 for 3 with a double while scoring three runs in the game. Fellow sophomore Alison Superka (Orefield, Pa. / Parkland) hit an RBI double while also scoring twice, and freshman Jessie Hunt (Bath, Pa. / Northampton Area) had a breakout hitting performance, going 3 for 4 and tallying two RBIs. Catherine Miller (Huntingdon, Pa. / Huntingdon) earned the win in the circle, pitching a full seven innings and striking out seven along the way.

The results see the Eagles move to 5-13 on the season, with a busy week of games still ahead for the team. They return home to host Mt. Aloysius for a doubleheader tomorrow, before hitting the road again to face Lebanon Valley on Thursday, and then Landmark opponent Elizabethtown on Saturday.