HUNTINGDON, Pa.- Juniata hosted Susquehanna in the Landmark opener for both teams on Friday afternoon at West End Field. The Crusaders took Game One 10-0 and the second game by the score of 4-3.
The Eagles were held to just one hit in the first game. Susquehanna's Jamie Fesintine went seven innings and only gave up one walk while striking out six batters.
The Crusaders led 3-0 in the second inning and Eagle starting pitcher Chrisi Lerchen (Annville, Pa./Annville-Cleona) was relieved by Maddie Garrick (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Mechanicsburg). Garrick was able to hold SU scoreless for three innings and keep JC in the game. Susquehanna scored once in the sixth and then tallied six runs in the seventh to pull away from the Eagles.
Garrick had her longest outing of the season. She went six innings and gave up eight hits, seven runs, (four earned) five walks, and struck out two.
Game Two saw the Crusaders lead 4-0 after four and a half innings of play. The Eagles would rally in the bottom of the fifth. Natalya Sizdahkhani (Gaithersburg, Md./Quince Orchard) led off with a single. Alicia Regnault (Bridgewater, N.J./Bridgewater Raritan) struck out but singles by Brooke Walls (Mifflinburg, Pa./Mifflinburg) and Paige Dennison (East Berlin, Pa./Bermudian Springs) loaded the bases. Allie Baney (State College, Pa./State College) singled to center to score Sizdahkhani. Jennifer Carthew (New Paris, Pa./Chestnut Ridge) singled to left to score Walls. Kerigan Ammerman (Alexandria, Pa./Juniata Valley) hit a fly ball to center that was deep enough to score Dennison as JC cut the SU lead to 4-3.The Eagles could not muster another rally as Juniata went down 1-2-3 in the sixth and seventh innings.
Sarah Sotelo (Fairfax, Va./Paul VI Catholic) started on the mound and went all seven innings. She surrendered seven hits, four earned runs, three walks, and struck out four batters.
Baney finished 2-for-4 with a run batted in. Abby Ebright (Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin East) was 2-for-3 with a double.
The Eagles will be back in action next Thursday when they host St. Vincent. The first game will start at 3 p.m. with the second game beginning around 5 p.m.
