By: Jennifer Jones
Director of Sports Information
jonesj@juniata.edu • juniatasports.net

HUNTINGDON, Pa. – Juniata College softball (5-24-1) tied game one of its doubleheader against Penn State Harrisburg 2-2 right before the skies opened up and forced the contest to be called.  Juniata's defense held the Lions scoreless in the top of the sixth inning, but its offense would never get the chance to continue its momentum from the fifth.

Junior Katie Schroeder (Kempton, Pa./Kutztown) went 2-for-2 to lead the team at the plate.  And sophomore Aly Smith (Mount Union, Pa./Mount Union) had a stellar day on the mound.  She struck out a season-high nine batters and gave up only one earned run in six innings of work.

Both teams scored in the first inning.  Penn State Harrisburg went up on a two-run double to right center with two outs.  Smith struck out her second batter of the inning to end the run.

Freshman Paige Dennison (East Berlin, Pa./Bermudian Springs) was hit by the third pitch of her at bat and moved to second after Schroeder worked her way to a walk.  The pair shifted into scoring position after the next batter grounded out to third.  When Smith then walked to load the bases, Lion starter Gabrielle Wolfe hit the next batter, sending Dennison home.

Offense had stalled for both teams when Smith lit the Eagles fire in the top of the fifth from the defensive side of the ball.  She struck out three of the four batters she faced, two of them looking.  The energy carried over to their offense.  Freshman Allie Baney (State College, Pa./State College Area) worked her way back from a 1-2 count to earn the leadoff walk.  Schroeder then doubled to right center, moving Baney to third.

With one out, Smith grounded out to short, but the hit was hard enough to score Baney and tie the game up at 2-all.  The Lions got out of the inning and tried to regain the lead during their at bat and were able to get runners on before the Eagles defense shut the door.

The game was put on a weather delay in the middle of the sixth inning and called after conditions deteriorated.  Juniata returns to action on Thursday, April 24.  The Eagles head down to Dickinson College for their only night doubleheader of the season.  The first game begins at 5 p.m.

Follow Your Eagles! Stay up-to-date on your Juniata College Eagles by logging onto www.juniatasports.net.  And don't forget to follow us on twitter (@JuniataEagles) and on Facebook (Juniata Eagles).