SELINGSGROVE, Pa. – The Juniata College softball team kept the game close, but eventually fell to first seed Susquehanna in their third game of the Landmark Conference Tournament Saturday morning at Susquehanna's Sassafras Field.
Juniata's best opportunities to score came in the first and sixth innings.
Senior Steph Frith (Pottstown, Pa./Pottsgrove) singled through the left side to lead off the game. With two outs, Freshman Aly Smith singled to left field, advancing Frith to second. However, the next batter was unable to capitalize, and popped up to end the inning.
With one out in the sixth inning, Jasmine Assad (Lambertville, N.J./South Hunterdon Regional) singled to left field. Junior Rachel Smith (Martinsburg, Pa./Home School) then laced the ball to left field, advancing Assad to second base. But Susquehanna's starting pitcher Ashley Cole was able to calm Juniata's bats, getting the next two batters to ground out to end the inning.
Starting pitcher Aly Smith took the loss. She allowed five hits and gave up four runs, none of which were earned, while striking out two batters.
With the loss, the fourth seeded Eagles see their season come to a close, recording an overall record of 11-18.
The future looks bright for the Eagles. The Eagles will return key starting pitcher freshman Aly Smith. Smith won five games for the Eagles this season while recording a team low 3.53 ERA, and struck out a team high 69 batters. She also proved to be a source of power for the offense, hitting a .325 clip, driving in 12 runs on 22 hits. She also hit two homeruns and led the team in doubles. Fellow freshman Assad proved to be a force at the plate, hitting two homeruns on the season.
Many upperclassmen had great success as well. Junior Kelsea Decker (Waynesboro, Pa./Waynesboro) returned to the mound for the Eagles and picked up five wins with a 3.97 ERA. Rachel Smith led the team in RBIs, driving in 15 runs on 24 hits. Frith was one of Juniata's most important performers, leading the team in hitting with a .350 average, on 28 hits and scoring 17 runs. Frith is 8th on the all-time hits list, with 87 hits for her career.
Juniata will return nine of 12 letterwinners next year .The Eagles will combine experience with youth next season, as they look to continue to improve.
