Eagles Get First Landmark Win in Doubleheader with Drew

HUNTINGDON, Pa.- The Juniata softball team hosted their final home games of the season on Saturday afternoon, with Drew coming to town for a doubleheader. Game one saw the Rangers light up the scoreboard and end the game in five innings, winning 12-2. But the Eagles would regroup in game two, taking a 5-3 win and earning their first Landmark win of the season.

Both offenses struck in the first inning, with Drew doing heavier damage. They scored three runs in the top of the inning, capitalizing on three hits and a fielding error. The Eagles answered with their own run in the bottom of the frame, with a single, back-to-back walks, and another single bringing a runner home, but still ultimately leaving the bases loaded to end the inning. Juniata's remaining scoring came in the bottom of the third, courtesy of a solo home run from sophomore Alison Superka (Orefield, Pa. / Parkland). Superka already finds herself in the Juniata record books as a sophomore, with her seven career home runs currently having her tied for seventh in program history. While the Eagles were then stifled for the remainder of the game, the bats of Drew exploded, tallying nine runs in the next three innings. They finished the game with 16 total hits.

Juniata would return for game two on a mission, riding a strong pitching performance from senior Catherine Miller (Huntingdon, Pa. / Huntingdon). She went the distance in the circle, allowing three runs on seven hits, while striking out seven batters. After two scoreless innings to start the game, Drew pushed across two runs in the top of the third to take the lead. However, the Eagles roared back with an offensive onslaught in the bottom of the fourth inning. Senior Maya McLeod (San Diego, Calif. / La Jolla Country Day) led off the inning with a double to left center, followed by Superka reaching on a walk. Miller then came to the plate and knocked a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring McLeod and advancing Superka to second. Ruthie Betts (Hawk Run, Pa. / West Branch Area) then came to the play and ripped a double to right center, picking up the RBI and scoring Superka. With two runs already scored and a runner on second, freshman Emily Eutsey (Mount Pleasant, Pa. / Southmoreland) singled to left field and advanced the runner to third. Fellow freshman Abby John (Mount Airy, Md. / South Carroll) came through with an infield single to score the Eagles' third run of the inning before speedster Reagan Goldsmith (Middletown, Del. / Middletown) laid down a bunt single, picking up an RBI of her own and advancing John to second. John and Goldsmith then pulled off a double steal to reach second and third, but a ground out double play would end the inning and stop the scoring at four. With Juniata now leading 4-2, Drew got one run back in the top of the fifth to narrow the score to 4-3, but in the bottom of the frame, Juniata reestablished their two-run advantage with McLeod picking up an RBI. Miller's pitching then held firm, and the score remained 5-3 as the Eagles saw out the victory.

Juniata will now prepare to hit the road for an away doubleheader at York College of Pennsylvania, with the games beginning at 1:00 PM on Sunday.