By: Jennifer Jones
Director of Sports Information
jonesj@juniata.edu • juniatasports.net
HUNTINGDON, Pa. – The Juniata College softball team hit for power and moved around the base path well in 2014. Juniata (5-28-1, 2-10 Landmark) recorded its third best season of triples and home runs in the past 15 years. There were three Eagles who moved into the record books for single season extra-base hits and two for stolen bases. Juniata actually led the Landmark Conference in stolen bases.
"It was a learning season," said head coach Sam Kszepka. "Only really having two seniors and a junior for the majority of the season, we were predominately led by underclassman. But with that, every single player got a ton of experience, not just in practice, but on the playing field as well."
Junior Katie Schroeder (Kempton, Pa./Kutztown) had a breakout year. The outfielder finished with a career-best .323 batting average, leading the team in slugging percentage, total bases, triples, stolen bases, and at bats. Schroeder's four triples ranked her 70th nationally. She finished the season second on the team in batting average, hits, home runs, and walks. Her performance at the plate put her second on the all-time single-season triples list and tied at seventh in home runs. She has also worked her way onto the career record lists for triples, home runs, and stolen bases.
"She really committed herself to being a better hitter all year," Kszepka said of Schroeder. "She worked really hard in the winter and definitely showed this spring that she was much more consistent with base hits and power as well, which really shocks a lot of people with her stature."
Schroeder was one of four Eagles who started all 34 games during the 2014 season. Senior Rachel Smith (Martinsburg, Pa./Homeschooled), and freshmen Allie Baney (State College, Pa./State College Area) and Paige Dennison (East Berlin, Pa./Bermudian Springs) also earned 34 starts. Smith, who sits among the all-time career leaders in at-bats, hits, doubles, home runs, runs batted in (RBI), and total bases, spent time in the infield, behind the plate and on the mound. A true utility player, she finished third on the team with a .284 batting average, but led in doubles, RBI, and opponents batting average while finishing second in earned run average (ERA).
"Rachel was able to make things happen with runners on base," started Kszepka. "Paige was a table setter for us. And Baney started the season off slow, but she settled into the batters box and was able to start thinking more situational."
Both Baney and Schroeder led the team with 10 stolen bases this past season and are tied for third on the single-season records list for the stat. Baney also led the team in runs scored, at bats, and total plate appearances, and finished second in triples.
Dennison, named the team's most valuable player, is also a member of the women's basketball team. She finished with a team-high .385 batting average and earned a team-best 14 walks during the season. Dennison ranked 68th nationally in toughest to strikeout swinging, and was second on the team in runs scored, doubles, and slugging percentage.
The Eagles were not afraid to hold their ground in the box as a whole. They were hit a program record 24 times. Smith and freshman Lindsey Kosicki (Patton, Pa./Cambria Heights) led the way and were nationally ranked for their fearlessness at the plate.
"She is willing to take it for the team and looks at it like a quality a bat and is not afraid to take her hits," Kszepka said of Kosicki. The third baseman finished her inaugural season ranked 18th nationally in the toughest to strike out looking category and led the team with four home runs. Kosicki, Dennison, Schroeder, and Smith were the only Eagles to earn over a .400 slugging percentage.
The mound was dominated by sophomore Aly Smith (Mount Union, Pa./Mount Union). She finished with team-bests of 72 strikeouts and a 5.25 ERA after going a team-high 113.1 innings. She is third in the Landmark for strikeouts and nationally ranked for the stat. The lefty now appears on three single-season records lists and four career lists including fifth in strikeouts.
"Aly was our workhorse on the mound this year," said Kszepka. "She would start the first game and end up coming back in the second game and be just as sharp as the first game. Her movement is what really kept batters off balance."
Juniata's play was not just solid on the field, but also in the classroom. Schroeder, senior Lydia Gorba (Portage, Pa./Portage), and sophomore Lauren Lesser (Mt. Laurel, N.J./Holy Cross) were named to the Landmark Academic Honor Roll for maintaining over a 3.2 cumulative GPA while competing.
The Eagles began their 2014 campaign down in sunny Florida at the Dot Richardson Spring Games. In the second day of competition, they earned their first win of the season over Alvernia College (March 10) in a comeback by scoring a season-high 11 runs. Juniata also picked up a big 3-2 win over Salve Regina (March 11) before the end of spring break. After returning to central Pennsylvania, old man winter covered the area in snow and cold rain wreaking havoc on the Eagles schedule.
When conditions bettered, Juniata went on to split with Mount Aloysius (March 22) after an 8-6 win in game one. Despite dropping their first two conference games of the year, the Eagles rebounded by splitting with both the University of Scranton (March 12) and Drew University (March 13). They recorded their first tie in almost 10 years in a 2-2 grudge match against Penn State Harrisburg (April 22) when weather conditions halted play in the sixth inning. The Eagles averaged over seven runs in each of their wins in 2014.
Top Moments
Juniata was scheduled to face Mt. Aloysius on March 22 on the road, but snow on the Mounties field moved the contest to Huntingdon and gave the Eagles their first home game of the season. Despite being on their own turf, the Eagles were still the away team and batted first. With two outs and a runner on second in the top of the first inning, Kosicki sent the third pitch over the left center wall for her first collegiate home run. Schroeder followed by cranking her first deep ball of the year also over the left center wall. It gave Juniata the lead and they went on to win 8-6.
The Eagles faced Landmark rival Susquehanna on senior day (April 19). Down 6-0 heading into the bottom of the seventh inning, Juniata began a rally. With two outs and a runner on first, Baney was hit by a pitch and Schroeder walked to load the bases. That's when Kosicki sent the first pitch of her at bat over the fence clearing the bases and pulling the Eagles to within two (6-4). It was Kosicki's first collegiate grand slam and fourth of the season.
Juniata gave up two runs in the first inning against Penn State Harrisburg (April 22). With her team trailing 2-1, Aly Smith allowed just two hits in the next four innings, striking out seven in the process. Her play on the mound helped the Eagles hold on until the game-tying run could be scored in the fifth inning. She finished the contest with a season-high nine strikeouts.
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