Knights Conquer Eagles in Both Games of Doubleheader
BUENA VISTA, Va.- The Juniata softball team dropped both games against Southern Virginia on Saturday afternoon, losing 3-2 in game one before falling 7-3 in game two.
Game one saw Southern Virginia come out on top of a 3-2 contest that saw just nine hits. Each side collected a pair of runs in the first inning, while a two-out RBI single for the Knights in the third inning was the deciding factor.
Jessie Hunt (1-for-3, 2B) and Emily Eutsey (1-for-3, 1B) each collected an RBI in the first inning, while Kay Magill had two singles.
Cate Baran pitched all six innings for Juniata with two earned runs, five hits, and four strikeouts with just two walks.
The Eagles didn't get a runner aboard in the first until Baran's two-out single, which was followed by Hunt's double to right field to score Baran and Eutsey's single to score Hunt, although she was out trying to advance to second base.
The Knights opened the bottom half getting a runner to second on an infielder error. A sacrifice bunt moved the runner to third, and an infield groundout scored the run. The next batter homered to level the scoreline before a groundout ended the inning.
Juniata managed just a walk and hit in the next two innings, not getting a runner in scoring position. The Knights found their winning third run in the bottom of the third on a single, sacrifice bunt, and single sequence. They then walked to get runners to first and second with one out before Baran converted a groundout.
Neither side got a runner into scoring position in the final four innings, with each side collecting one walk and one hit, and the Eagles went down in order in the seventh to end game one.
Game two saw Juniata unravel in the third inning with four errors and five runs given up in a 7-3 defeat.
Claire Thomas went 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI, while Alex Douglass (2-for-3, 1 RBI) and Baran (2-for-3, 1 2B) also had multi-hit games.
Isabella Countryman was tagged for the loss after two and one-third innings giving up four hits and two earned runs. Maryn Swank went three and two third innings with five hits, three earned runs, and one strikeout, the only strikeout for any pitcher in the game.
Juniata got a runner aboard with an infield error before grounding into a double play. The Knights then got their first runner aboard with an infield error and steal of second before flying out, losing the lead runner on a fielder's choice at the plate from third base and a lineout.
Juniata managed one hit in the second inning, and the lone hit from SVU came via a two-out solo home run to claim the lead.
Abby John got aboard to open the third, then claimed second base on a passed ball and third via a steal. Douglass followed with a single to right to score John. Caran got aboard with a single to get two runners aboard with no outs before the Eagles conceded two flyouts, and Baran was caught stealing at second.
Five of the Knight's seven runs followed in the third. They opened with a single and fielder's choice before scoring the first runner on a two-error play on an initial single up the middle. A double scored the second run and forced a pitching change from Juniata. Another multi-error play followed to concede the third run, followed by a triple and sacrifice fly to wrap up the scoring.
Thomas doubled with one out in the fourth but did not make it home, then the Knights went down in order. Caran doubled in the top of the fifth with one out, but the inning ended on a groundout to first.
The Knight scored one more run with a two-out double to left field to get runners to second and third before flying out to left field.
Juniata closed the gap with two runs in the sixth inning to get to 7-3. Hunt got aboard with a one-out single down the left-field line, followed by a Thomas single down the line, where she advanced to second on the throw home. Madison Wrightstone then scored on a two-out passed ball after advancing a hitter earlier.
A one-out Douglass single was the only runner in the top of the seventh for Juniata as the Eagles dropped their second game of the day.
The Eagles play their first home doubleheader at West End Field on Wednesday as they host Saint Vincent. Game one is slated for a 3:00 pm first pitch.