BETHLEHELM, Pa.- The Juniata softball team faced one of its toughest tasks of the season as the Eagles faced #15 Moravian on Sunday. The Greyhounds took both games of the doubleheader by scores of 5-0 and 9-4.
The loss drops Juniata to an overall record of 9-11 and 2-2 in the Landmark. Moravians improves to 18-2 and 4-0 in the conference.
The Eagles showed some life on offense in Game 2. Trailing 4-0, Brooke Ridenour (Thurmont, Md./Catoctin) was hit by a pitch to lead off the third inning. Allie Baney (State College, Pa./State College) moved her to second on a sacrifice bunt. Alyssa Shedlock (State College, Pa./State College) singled to put runners on first and third. Kerigan Ammerman's (Alexandria, Pa./Juniata Valley) groundout to second base scored Ridenour. Jordan Wahrenberger (Shamong, N.J./Seneca) walked and Anna Baran (Tyrone, Pa./Tyrone) came in to pinch run. A passed ball moved Shedlock to third and Baran to second. Abby Ebright (Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin East) came to the plate and on a 2-2 pitch, slammed the ball over the left centerfield fence to score three runs and tie the game at 4-4.
The Greyhounds moved ahead 5-4 in the bottom portion of the third. Moravian would go on to score once in the fourth, twice in the fifth, and once in the sixth.
Starting pitcher Baran lasted two innings for Juniata. She gave up four runs on five hits and walked three. Chrisi Lerchen (Annville, Pa./Annville-Cleona) pitched three innings in relief with seven hits given up along with four earned runs and three walks. She struck out one batter. Raeleigh Redden (Clearfield, Pa./Clearfield) had one hit given up and one walk in one inning.
Shedlock was 2-for-3 with a double and a run scored. Ebright was also 2-for-3 with her first homerun of the season, one run scored, and three runs batted in.
Game 1 was a pitcher's duel early one between Eagle starter Rachael Bernier (Bellefonte, Pa./Bellefonte Area) and Hounds starter Josie Novak. It was 1-0 Moravian after the first inning. The Greyhounds nearly added to their lead in the third when Kaela Kane led off with a triple but the Eagles turned a double play on the next batter to wipe Kane off of the base path.
The Eagles looked to get something going in the fourth inning. Ammerman doubled to right field with one out and Wahrenberger walked. Ebright struck out, however, and Lerchen grounded out to third to end the inning. Moravian moved ahead 3-0 in the fourth and added a run in the fifth and six innings.
Bernier pitched 4.1 innings and gave up four runs on eight hits. She walked one batter. Baran went 1.2 innings giving up one run on two hits along with a walk.
Juniata returns to West End Field to host Wilson on Wednesday. The doubleheader begins at 3:00 with the second game starting at 5:00 p.m.
