HUNTINGDON, Pa.- The Juniata softball team defeated Penn St.-Harrisburg, 8-3 in game one but their comeback in game two fell short, 4-3.
The Eagles started off strong in game one as Ashley Clark (Saxton, Pa. / Tussey Mountain) hit a three-RBI to center field, bringing in Maggie Peck (Philipsburg, Pa. / Philipsburg Osceola) and Abby Ebright (Harrisburg, Pa. / Central Dauphin East HS). Penn St.-Harrisburg got on the board in the third as they scored a run. In the bottom of the third, Juniata added another run as Catherine Miller (Huntingdon, Pa. / Huntingdon Area) homered to right center.
The Eagles kept it going in the bottom of the fourth as they tacked on three more runs. Molly Ulrich (Homer, N.Y. / Homer Central) bunted to third base for a single. Alyssa "Sheddy" Shedlock (State College, Pa. / State College) advanced to first on an error by the first basewoman which advanced Ulrich to third, then Shedlock stole second. Ebright singled up the middle and advanced to second on the throw for an RBI. Clark singled down the left field line, bringing in Ebright and Shedlock. The Lions added another run to be behind, 7-2.
In the fifth, Erin Pfeffer (Camp Hill, Pa. / Trinity High School) doubled to left center, then Shedlock tripled to right field to allow Pfeffer to cross home plate. Penn St.-Harrisburg scored another run in the seventh. Juniata took game one, 8-3.
Clark went 3-4 with with a home run and five RBI's. Shedlock went 2-4 with a triple, a run scored, and a RBI. Ebright went 2-3 with two runs scored and a RBI.
Game two saw the Eagles get on the board first. Shedlock started off with a double to left field then advanced to third on a ground out to the shortstop. A sac fly to center field allowed Shedlock to go home. Penn St.-Harrisburg picked up two runs in the fourth then one in the seventh to take the lead. In the bottom of the seventh, JC cameback to tie up the game, 3-3. Ulrich bunted to the pitcher, stole second, and advanced to third on a passed ball. Ebright was walked then stole second. A sac fly to right field allowed Ulrich to run home. Miller singled down the right field line, bringing in Ebright. Juniata's comeback came up short as the Lions earned a run in the top of the eighth to win the game, 4-3.
Juniata returns to action, Thursday as they travel to Mt. Aloysius for a doubleheader starting at 3:00PM.
