Image Provided by the Penn State Altoona Athletic Communications Department
ALTOONA, Pa.- The Juniata softball team completed a sweep of the Penn State Altoona Lions with a commanding six-inning 9-1 victory in game one and a come-from-behind 4-3 win in game two.
Cate Baran delivered another strong complete game performance in game one of the day as Juniata claimed a 9-1 victory in six innings. In those six innings, she gave up seven hits, one earned run, and two walks with seven strikeouts.
The Juniata offense combined for nine runs on 13 hits as three Eagles had three multi-RBI games. Caleigh Love (2-for-4, 1 HR, 2 RBI) hit her first home run of the season, Jessie Hunt (3-for-4, 4 RBI, 1 2B, 1 R) led the side in runs batted in, and Alison Superka (2-for-4, 2 RBI, 2 2B, 2 R) had a pair of doubles. Baran went 2-for-3 with a pair of stolen bases, while Lauren Fisher also had two singles.
Baran started the game with a walk and a stolen base before Altoona got the next three batters out. Baran then left two runners stranded in the bottom half following a one-out walk and single that saw runners on the corners. Juniata didn't get a runner aboard in the second inning, while Altoona had just one one-out single as Baran got two strikeouts in the inning.
Juniata had the first of three three-run innings in an inning with five hits. Dani Berlin and Baran singled with one out; then an Ashley Cheung sacrifice bunt got both runners in scoring position. Superka doubled to center to score both, and Hunt singled to left center to get Superka home. Love followed with a single before a fielder's choice on a ground ball to third inning the frame.
Altoona was unable to get a ball out of the infield as they went down in order in the third. Each side managed one single in the fourth inning, then Juniata again struck for three runs in the fifth inning. Cheung walked to start the frame; then a Superka double put both in scoring position. A Hunt single scored both.
Back-to-back groundouts advanced pinch runner Wrightstone to third base, then a two-out Emily Eutsey single scored the third run of the inning. Altoona scored its lone run of the game with three hits in the fifth inning. With two outs, the Lions strung together a double, single, and single before a fielder's choice ended the fifth.
Three runs in the sixth inning got Juniata to an eight-run lead to force a run-rule scenario in the bottom of the sixth. Baran started the inning with a single and steal of the second base yet again, advancing to third as Superka hit a fly ball deep enough with one out to advance Baran to third. Hunt doubled to score her; then Love smashed a ball over the left-field fence to end scoring in the inning.
Baran got popouts from the first two batters before Altoona found life with an infield single. Baran caught the next batter looking on a strikeout to end the first game of the day in six innings.
Game two saw the Eagles make up a 2-0 deficit with three runs in the sixth inning and one in the seventh via a dropped fly ball to right field that let Fisher score from third for a 4-3 win and a sweep of the day.
Maryn Swank made it through six innings with nine hits and just earned runs, while Baran closed things down in the seventh by putting down the Lions hitters in order with one strikeout.
Jessie Hunt and Ruthie Betts each went 2-for-3, while Hunt had the side's lone extra-base hit with a double.
Neither side managed a baserunner in the first, while Betts opened the hit column with a two-out single in the second. Altoona struck for its first two runs in the bottom of the second, getting two runners in scoring position with two outs via a pair of hits. A single would then score both; then Swank got a groundout to end the inning.
Juniata didn't register a baserunner in the third, while Altoona applied more pressure on Swank with a pair of two-out singles. Swank then produced a groundout back to her. Hunt doubled with two outs, but Juniata could not get their first run of the day. Swank then put Altoona down in order at the bottom of the fourth.
Kaylie Magill singled with one out and advanced to third via a passed ball and groundout, but Altoona maintained their 2-0 lead. They were then unable to capitalize on a leadoff double.
Juniata retook the lead via four singles and a walk in the sixth inning. Paige Loudenslager singled start, then Superka walked aboard. Dani Berlin pinch-ran for Loudenslager and promptly stole third base. Madison Wrightstone stepped in for Superka and snagged second in the process. Hunt singled next to score one of the runners. A Love single then scored Wrightstone, followed by a Betts single to score pinch runner Abby John from second base. Love was picked off for the second out. A groundout ended the inning.
Two singles to start the bottom of the frame got runners to the corners; then, a sacrifice fly scored one. Upon receiving the throw from the outfield, Superka caught the runner on first, trying to advance to second, and threw in time to beat the runner. Swank got out of the inning via a flyout to center.
Fisher started the one-run seventh inning that secured a Juniata victory via a leadoff single. Reagan Goldsmith followed with a successful sacrifice bunt that saw Fisher advance all the way to third as the third base was left unoccupied defensively as the third baseman ran forward for the bunt with no defensive cover at third. Baran lofted a ball to shallow right field that was dropped to allow Fisher to score.
Baran then stepped in the circle in the bottom of the seventh and struck the Lions down in order for her first save of the season.
The Juniata softball team gets a week-and-a-half break in competition before heading to Drew for a Landmark Conference doubleheader on Saturday. The first pitch of game one is scheduled for 1:00 pm.
