By: Jennifer Jones
Director of Sports Information
jonesj@juniata.edu • juniatasports.net
Photo: TJ Chance-Chin
HUNTINGDON, Pa. – Big bats led the Juniata College softball team to its 8-6 win over Mount Aloysius College on Saturday, March 22 at West End Field. The Eagles then dropped game two (8-0) to split the day with Mount Aloysius. Juniata (3-11) drilled two home runs and four doubles across in game one.
"It's great that our bats woke up," said head coach Sam Kszepka. "We attacked the ball really well in the first game. We were aggressive right from the start and that's how need to play in order to successful."
Five Eagles had multi-hit days led by sophomore Paige Dennison (East Berlin, Pa./Bermudian Springs) and freshman Lindsey Kosicki (Patton, Pa./Cambria Heights). Both grabbed a team-high three hits. Dennison went a team-best 3-for-5 on the day.
[Paige] always seems to find a way to get on base," said Kszepka. "She really helps the top of our order."
Kosicki hit her first collegiate home run in her first at-bat of the day. Her two-run blast to left center was followed up by a solo shot from junior Katie Schroeder (Kempton, Pa./Kutztown) that also sailed over the left center wall. Kosicki finished the day 3-for-6. Schroeder, sophomore Holly Bettinger (Adamstown, Pa./Cocalico), and freshman Allie Baney (State College, Pa./State College) picked up two hits each, respectively.
Sophomore Aly Smith (Mount Union, Pa./Mount Union) earned the first game win. She struck out four in six innings of work, giving up just three earned runs. Juniata returns to action tomorrow, Sunday, March 23 to open Landmark Conference play against Elizabethtown College.
"We're excited to start our conference games," Kszepka added. "It's great having that first win as momentum going into games tomorrow."
The doubleheader is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. This is the first meeting of these two teams in Landmark play.
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