HUNTINGDON, Pa. – The Juniata softball team dropped two to conference opponent #17 Moravian, 8-5 and 11-3, in their doubleheader Saturday afternoon.
In game one, Moravian took the early lead 2-0, but the Eagles were quick to respond with two of their own in the bottom of the second. Allie Baney (State College, Pa./State College Area) was hit by a pitch and was followed by a Brooke Ridenour (Thurmont, Md./Catoctin) walk, both advancing to scoring position after Jennifer Carthew (New Paris, Pa./Chestnut-Ridge HS) grounded out to the pitcher. Molly Ulrich (Homer, NY/Homer Central) singled to left, and the two were able to reach home on an error in the outfield to tie things up 2-2.
The Greyhounds scored another in the third, but JC scored runs in the following two innings to go ahead 4-3. Baney's single in the fourth coupled with two Moravian errors allowed for the Eagles' run in the fourth while Kerigan Ammerman's (Alexandria, Pa./Juniata Valley) single to center and Chrisi Lerchen's (Annville, Pa./Annville-Cleona) double gave JC another in the fifth.
The Eagles faced a long sixth inning in the field, Moravian putting up five runs to go ahead 8-4. Abby Ebright (Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin East HS) knocked in a run with a single up the middle in the bottom of the sixth, but JC was unable to recover, falling 8-5.
Juniata was unable to stop an offensively sound Moravian in game two, ultimately dropping the game 11-3 despite a three-run fifth inning rally. Baney singled to start off the run, followed by an Alicia Regnault (Bridgewater, NJ/Bridgewater Raritan) infield single. Ashley Clark (Saxton, Pa./Tussey Mountain) hit a single to left field, sending Baney home, and Lerchen's grounder to the pitcher allowed for Regnault to reach third. A wild pitch had Regnault crossing home and Ebright closed the inning with a single up the middle to secure the team's final run of the game.
The Eagles face Penn State Altoona at home on Tuesday in a doubleheader. Game one starts at 3:00pm.
