HUNTINGDON, Pa.- The Juniata softball team split results against Landmark Conference opponents Susquehanna University on Friday afternoon, losing game one 8-5 before claiming the second game 5-4 in the seventh-inning via a walk-off wild pitch scenario that saw Cate Baran score the game-winning run.
Game one saw the River Hawks tag Baran for two runs in the fourth inning and three runs in the fifth inning for their 8-5 victory in the first game of the afternoon.
The Juniata offense was explosive at times, as Baran and Alison Superka each had a pair of late-game home runs that got Juniata back within a couple of runs. Baran went 2-for-3 on the day with her two-run fifth-inning shot, while Superka was 1-for-1 with a walk and 2 RBI from her solo home run and a sacrifice fly. The Eagles only had six hits in the contest against Susquehanna's 14.
Each side started the contest with a pair of runs in the first inning. Baran struck out the first two batters but soon faced trouble with back-to-back doubles and a single to score the second run of the inning. A popout got her out of the frame.
Baran doubled to start the bottom half of the inning, then an Alex Douglass bunt single put runners on the corners, followed by a Douglass steal to get both runners in scoring position. Superka scored one on a sacrifice fly, then Douglass scored on a passed ball before the River Hawks found back-to-back swinging K's.
Both teams went down in order in the second, then Susquehanna claimed the lead with a one-out solo home run to center field. Back-to-back singles and a double steal with two outs got two runners in scoring position, but Baran was able to produce a flyout to escape the frame. Juniata again went down in order in the bottom half of the inning.
Another home run in the fourth inning would give Susquehanna a 6-3 lead, as a leadoff double was soon followed by a one-out home run. Superka started the bottom half of the fourth with a walk, but Susquehanna produced a groundball double play to the second baseman. Caleigh Love singled, followed by a groundout to end the inning.
The third-straight inning with a run for Susquehanna saw them add three for an 8-2 lead in the top of the fifth. They started the inning with three consecutive singles followed by a sacrifice fly and another flyout. With two out, they scored two more RBI singles. Juniata got back within four in the bottom of the fifth via Baran's two-out, two-run home run to make it 8-4.
Baran got two strikeouts in the top of the sixth, then Superka got Juniata one run closer with a home run of her own in the bottom of the sixth inning. Baran gave one hit to open the seventh but retired the next three to keep her side within three runs. Juniata went down in order in the bottom of the seventh to concede game one.
Game two saw Susquehanna claim the in the first and fourth innings, but each time the Eagles leveled the scoreline and eventually claimed the game with the seven-inning walk-off on a wild pitch.
Superka hit her second home run of the day in the fifth inning in a game where she went 3-for-3 for the home run, three RBI, a double, and a stolen base. Douglass had three singles, while Baran went 2-for-4 with a stolen base.
Maryn Swank went the entire distance in game two, pitching seven innings and giving up four runs on eight hits for her third win of the season and her third complete game in 2023.
Susquehanna started the contest with two runs in the first for the second time of the day, making use of three consecutive singles that scored their runs. Swank then retired the next three batters. Baran singled to lead off the bottom of the first and soon stole the second. Superka got aboard to get both runners in scoring position, then Thomas scored Baran on a fielder's choice play that claimed Superka trying to advance to third base. Juniata stood 2-1 down through one frame.
The second inning saw no runners reach first base, but Juniata tied the game in the bottom of the third inning. Swank reached on an infield error to start the inning, then a one-out Douglass bunt single advanced pinch runner Madison Wrightstone into scoring position. A wild pitch moved both runners up, then Superka singled to left to score one run. Superka stole second to get two runners into scoring position, but the River Hawks struck down the next two batters for a 2-2 game with four innings to play.
Neither side got a runner into scoring position in the fourth, but each team posted two runs in the fifth inning. The River Hawks reclaimed the lead, starting with a single and back-to-back fielder's choice plays that left them with a runner on first with two outs. A two-out triple scored one run to take the lead, then a single scored a second before a groundout to first ended the inning. Douglass singled with one out in the fifth, then Superka cleared the fence for the second time of the afternoon for a four-apiece game.
Each side had one single in the sixth inning; then Swank put the River Hawks down in order in the seventh inning.
Baran singled to start the bottom of the seventh, then another Douglass bunt single advanced her to second base. A wild pitch saw her advance to third, and a dead ball call gave her an automatic base to end the contest in dramatic fashion.
With just four Landmark Conference games to play, the Eagles stand at 5-3 in Landmark Conference play and level with Susquehanna for the final two spots in the Landmark Conference playoffs. They are one game ahead of Drew currently, who sits in fifth.
Superka's two home runs move her to 11 in her career, which ties her for the second-most in program history with Holly Bettinger '16.
The Juniata softball team has a nonconference doubleheader on Sunday as they play Lebanon Valley College Sunday at 1 pm for their Pink-Out Game.
