By: Jennifer Jones
Director of Sports Information
jonesj@juniata.edu • juniatasports.net
YORK, Pa. – The Juniata College softball team out-hit York College in Thursday's doubleheader, but could not push enough runs across as it fell 8-5 and 4-3 on the road. Juniata (2-10) was within striking distance down the stretch of both games before the Spartans pulled away for the wins.
"We didn't give up," said head coach Sam Kszepka. "We finally woke our bats up and had a great defensive second game and just fell short."
Sophomore Paige Dennison (East Berlin, Pa./Bermudian Springs) had a huge day at the plate, going 5-for-7 with two runs. Senior Rachel Smith (Martinsburg, Pa./Homeschooled) started on the mound and had an impact at the plate. The right-hander held opponents to a .286 batting average in her four innings and led with a team-best three doubles, pushing across two runs.
Game 1
York took the early 4-0 lead before the Eagles fought back in the third. With one out on the board, Smith hit a double to left center. Freshman Allie Baney (State College, Pa./State College Area) followed with her second double of the season to score Smith. She then moved 60 feet from pay dirt by stealing third and scored when Dennison grounded out to the shortstop.
Fellow freshman Lindsey Kosicki (Patton, Pa./Cambria Heights) then snagged a double and advanced to third on a single to center by junior Katie Schroeder (Kempton, Pa./Kutztown). But the next batter flew out to end the inning and the Eagles first rally.
After York put two more across in the fourth, Juniata rallied again in the fifth inning. Smith started it with a double to left field. With one out, Dennison singled to center and Smith moved to third. She would score when Kosicki hit her second double of the game, advancing Dennison to third. Schroeder then singled through the left side, scoring Dennison, and advanced to third on throw to catch Kosicki that went off the mark and allowed Kosicki to cross the plate and pull Juniata within one, 6-5.
The Spartans would get out of the inning and put two more over in the bottom of the sixth to hold on for the win. Smith took the loss after four innings in the circle, having struck out two.
Game 2
Juniata was down 2-0 in game two when sophomore Aly Smith (Mount Union, Pa./Mount Union) rallied the troops in the top of the third inning. She started it off with a single to right center and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by sophomore Holly Bettinger (Hummelstown, Pa./Lower Dauphin). Rachel Smith then hit a double to right center, scoring Aly Smith from second.
The Eagles tied the game up in the fifth inning. It started with another Aly Smith single to right center. She stole second and then advanced to third when freshman Nikea Ulrich (Homer, N.Y./Homer) singled to the catcher. Aly Smith scored the game-tying run on a sacrifice fly from Rachel Smith and Ulrich advanced to second. The next batter popped out to end the inning but the Eagles had tied with York for the first time during the afternoon.
Juniata continued to push and took the lead in the top of the sixth inning. Dennison singled to left field. She advanced to third on a double down the right field line from Schroeder. Sophomore Brooke Walls (Mifflinburg, Pa./Mifflinburg) knocked in the go-ahead run on a single to the pitcher. With runners on first and third, the next batter lined into a double play to end the inning.
York carried the momentum from its defense into the bottom of the inning. After the first batter struck out looking, the next two earned back-to-back singles. The seven batter then drilled a ball to left center for a double that scored the tying and game-winning runs. Aly Smith spent the full game on the mound and walked just one of the 27 batters she faced.
Juniata remains on the road for its next doubleheader. The Eagles take on Mt. Aloysius on Saturday, March 22 starting at 1 p.m. with game two scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. They finally return home and open Landmark Conference play against Elizabethtown College on Sunday, March 23 in a doubleheader that begins at 3 p.m.
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