By: Jennifer Jones
Director of Sports Information
jonesj@juniata.edu • juniatasports.net
Photo: TJ Chance-Chin

SCRANTON, Pa. – The Juniata College softball team broke out of its slump Saturday afternoon by splitting against Landmark Conference rival the University of Scranton. Juniata (4-21, 1-5 Landmark) dropped the opener 17-9, but came from behind to take game two 7-5.  Scranton moved to 6-13 overall, 2-4 in conference with the loss.

Eight different Eagles had multi-hit days led by junior Katie Schroeder (Kempton, Pa./Kutztown).  The outfielder went 4-for-8 with four runs and two RBI.  Senior Rachel Smith (Martinsburg, Pa./Homeschooled), sophomore Holly Bettinger (Hummelstown, Pa./Lower Dauphin) and freshmen Lindsey Kosicki (Patton, Pa./Cambria Heights), Allie Baney (State College, Pa./State College Area), and Paige Dennison (East Berlin, Pa./Bermudian Springs) each recorded three hits apiece, respectively. Smith hit a two-out homer in game two that scored the game winning runs in the top of the seventh inning.

Game One
Juniata jumped out to an early lead.  Dennison led off the game with single.  She advanced to second on a wild pitch and moved to third on a single by Baney.  Schroeder then hit a single and earned her first RBI of the game as Dennison came across the plate.  The next batter was hit to load the bases.  With one out, Royal starter Jamie Hampsey walked in the Eagles second run of the inning.  Bettinger then grounded out at first, but knocked in another run, giving Juniata the 3-0 lead.

Scranton responded with a run in the bottom of the inning but really broke out in the second when they posted seven runs on six hits.  The Eagles got things going again in the third.  Schroeder singled and advanced to second when senior Lydia Gorba (Portage, Pa./Portage) walked.  She scored on a single by Smith and then Bettinger then knocked in Gorba.

The Eagles scored two more in the fourth.  With one out on the board, Baney singled and stole second.  Kosicki then hit a two run homer with two outs.  Juniata put one more across in each inning, but it wasn't enough to overtake the Royals.

Game Two
The Eagles were up 3-2 when Scranton strung together four runs in the bottom of the sixth to take the 5-3 lead.  The then game rested on the final inning.  Dennison earned a leadoff walk.  With two outs and runners on first and second, freshman Aly Smith (Mount Union, Pa./Mount Union) hit an RBI single and then R. Smith cranked a three-run shot over the wall that gave Juniata the 7-5 lead.  Scranton was able to get the tying run on base with only one out on the board.  But the Eagles defense cracked down and A. Smith struck out the final batter looking.  She pitched a complete game to pick up her fourth win of the season, striking out five in the process.

The Eagles return home Sunday, April 13 in a makeup doubleheader against Drew University. It will be Juniata's second Landmark matchup in two days and give them an opportunity to move up in the standings.

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