WILLIAMSPORT, Pa.- Juniata split results against the Lycoming Warriors on Tuesday evening, securing a 7-0 victory in game one led by a Cate Baran complete game shutout while falling behind early and ultimately being defeated 8-2 in the second game.
Three runs in the first inning of game one set the stage for a two-hit, complete game shutout from Cate Baran. She recorded six strikeouts while giving up just one walk. It's her sixth complete game of the season and first shutout.
Alison Superka (3-for-3, 2 RBI, 2 2B, 2 R) and Jessie Hunt (2-for-3, 3 RBI, 2 RBI, 1 R) each had multi-hit, multi-RBI games, while Ashley Cheung went 1-for-2 with a triple, an RBI, and a walk.
Alex Douglass got things going in the first inning with a one-out single and promptly stole second base. Superka followed suit with a double to left field to score Douglass, and Hunt hit the ball the other way on the next at-bat for a double to score Superka. Caleigh Love then scored Hunt on a ball to right field but was called out trying to stretch it to third base on a throw from the catcher.
Baran hit a batter and walked another with two outs in the first before producing a lineout to leave the first. Both sides went down in order in the second, then Juniata put a run on the board in each of the third and fourth innings. The run in the third came via a Superka double to score Douglass from first base, and the run in the fourth came from a Cheung triple to score Kassandra Roush.
Juniata put their final two runs on the board in the fifth inning following singles from Baran and Superka to put runners on the corners with one out. Superka stole second; then Hunt scored both runners with her second double of the day. Juniata only managed one hit across the sixth and seventh innings.
The Warriors managed their first runner of the game with a fifth-inning single with no outs, but a fielder's choice and two swinging strikeouts ended the fifth. The sixth saw another leadoff single for Lycoming, but Baran got the next six batters out to finish the contest with her second career complete-game shutout.
Lycoming got to Juniata pitching early in game two of the day with three runs in the first, and two runs in both the second and third innings to defeat the Eagles 8-2 and split the day. Gracie Ruch stepped in for relief in the bottom of the second inning and delivered four and two-thirds innings of service with two earned runs, six hits, two walks and a strikeout.
Juniata managed just five hits in the contest, including Hunt's sixth-inning solo home run and Lauren Fisher's double in the fifth inning.
Lycoming got their first four runners aboard in the first inning as they ended with three runs on four hits. The second saw them make use of a one-out single by following up with a two-run home run to left field to force Juniata to call upon relief in the circle. Ruch pitched the rest of the way, getting out of a runners-on-the-corners jam in the second inning with Juniata down 5-0.
Juniata found their first hit of the game in the top of the third with a two-out Douglass single and steal, but the Warriors struck out the next batter. They added two more runs in the third with three hits, including a double and a walk.
Neither side got beyond first base in the fourth inning, then Juniata posted their first run of the game in the fifth. Fisher doubled to open the inning, then advanced to third on a groundout. An infield error on the next at-bat allowed Fisher to score. An error and a walk set the stage for a one-out single in the bottom of the sixth for Lycoming's last run of the inning.
Hunt led off the sixth with a leadoff home run to make it 8-2, but it was the last runner to get aboard for either side to make it the final score.
Across the day, Juniata maintained their efficient base running, stealing four bases with no one caught stealing.
The Juniata softball team plays another away doubleheader on Thursday with a trip to Penn State Altoona. First pitch of game one is slated for 3:00 pm.
