WINCHESTER, Va.- The Juniata women's softball team suffered a pair of 7-2 losses at Shenandoah University to open the 2024 season.
Three players recorded two hits in game one, including Alison Superka (2-for-4, 1 RBI, 1 R), Morgan Brumbaugh (2-for-3), and Dani Berlin (2-for-4, 1 R). Claire Thomas also went 1-for-3 with an RBI single in the first inning.
Maryn Swank started in the circle in game one, going 3 and 1/3 innings with three earned runs, three strikeouts, and a walk.
The Eagles gave Swank two runs to work with following the top of the first. Berlin started the inning with a single up the middle before advancing to second on a fielder's choice to the pitcher. A Superka single scored Berlin to get Juniata on the board, while Brumbaugh followed with another single. An infield error on Emily Eutsey's hit to first loaded the bases for a Thomas RBI single that scored one run. The Hornets eventually escaped the inning on a fielder's choice at the plate and a strikeout.
Shenandoah's leadoff hitter got aboard, but she found herself caught between in a rundown between second and third on a bunt single on the next at-bat. One batter later, Shenandoah added a run on an RBI double to center field, while the runner advanced to third on a throw to home. Juniata made the most of a passed ball that went right of Superka at the plate, getting the runner out and attempting to steal home for the second out. A strikeout eventually ended the frame.
A Berlin single was the lone hit for either side in the second inning, while Shenandoah got a run back with two outs on a bloop single to right center that saw the runner score from first. A groundout to shortstop ended the inning.
The Hornets struck for two in the fourth inning to force a pitching change, starting the inning with a single and sacrifice bunt, setting up an RBI single to right center for the lead. An infield error scored the second run. Gracie Ruch stepped into the circle with one out and with a runner on second, and she escaped the inning with a line drive to Reagan Goldsmith in center, where the runner at second thought the ball was dropping for a double play.
Shenandoah built their gap with three runs in the fifth inning that included an inning-opening walk, back-to-back one-out hits, an infield error, and a wild pitch in the process.
Juniata got runners aboard Kay Magill's single, and Rylea Lynch walked with two outs in the sixth, but a groundout to third ended the frame, with Juniata unable to get a runner aboard in the seventh. Rylea Lynch produced a scoreless 1 and 2/3 inning in relief to close out the game for Juniata.
A Berlin walk, Superka single, and a double steal got runners to second and third with one out in the first inning of game two, but Shenandoah induced an infield popout and swinging strikeout to escape the first.
Shenandoah then swiftly got out in front in the second game of the day with three runs in the first inning and three in the second, as all seven of their hits came in those first two innings, including a pair of doubles.
Juniata managed just one baserunner in each inning from the third to the fifth inning before putting two runs on the board in the sixth. Superka opened the sixth inning with an opposite-field home run to right center to move within one home run of the program record, while Lexi Roush marked her collegiate debut with a solo homer to left two batters later.
Juniata struck out in order in the seventh inning to end the doubleheader.
Swank stepped into the circle with two outs in the first inning and went three and 1/3 innings with two earned runs and a while, while Isabella Countryman allowed no earned runs, a walk, and a hit batter in the final two innings.
Juniata looks for a bounceback as they venture to Washington and Jefferson this Saturday, March 2nd. The first pitch of game one is slated for 1:00 pm.
