Softball drops two games to #17 Moravian, 11-3 and 10-3

HUNTINGDON, Pa. – Juniata College softball amassed 14 hits off 17^th-ranked Moravian College, but the Greyhounds combined for 21 runs over two games as the Eagles dropped both ends of a Landmark Conference doubleheader, 11-3 and 10-3, Sunday afternoon at Weaver Park Field.

Juniata (3-25, 1-7 Landmark) rallied for three runs in the bottom of the fourth to cut Moravian's lead to 6-3, thanks to RBI singles by Allison Gerlach (Mesa, Ariz./Marcos de Niza) and Steph Frith (Pottstown, Pa./Pottsgrove). Gerlach crossed on a wild pitch later in the frame for the Eagles' third run of the inning.

Moravian (23-3, 6-0 Landmark) padded its lead with one run in the sixth. The Greyhounds tacked on four runs in the seventh inning on two Juniata errors and one Moravian hit, Brook Kowal's single to drive in Elizabeth Python.

Amanda Gerlach (Mesa, Ariz./Marcos de Niza) went 2-for-4 at the plate in game one, while six other players notched one singles.

Eagle starter Mason Kersey (Charles Town, W.Va./St. John's Catholic) allowed 11 runs, seven earned, on 12 hits with two walks and two strikeouts, and fell to 1-9 with the loss. 

Moravian starter Jenna Carmon was chased after yielding five hits and three earned runs over three-and-a-third innings, and Python came on to complete the game to earn the win and improve to 6-0.  Python scattered three hits over her three-and-two-thirds innings of work, fanning two Juniata batters.

In game two, Moravian jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the second, Maura Agnew's two-run home run.

Juniata responded with three runs in the bottom of the second on RBI singles by Allison Gerlach, Kelsey Shutt (Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin), and Frith.

That would cap Juniata's scoring, while Moravian added a single run in the third on Amanda Paulus' lead-off home run, with four runs in the fourth inning on four hits. The Greyhounds completed the day with two insurance runs in the sixth on a bases loaded hit-by-pitch to Kowal, and an fielder's choice grounder to short by Stephanie Falzarano.

Eagle starter Kelsea Decker (Waynesboro, Pa./Waynesboro Area) allowed nine earned runs on nine hits, and issued nine walks against four strikeouts in the loss. 

For Moravian College, Python again came on in relief to get the win, this time for Greyhound starter Alyssa Fegely who allowed five hits to the first 11 Juniata batters faced. Python entered to start the third inning, and pitched five innings of one-hit ball with three strikeouts and two walks, and did not allow a Juniata runner to get past first base. 

Juniata continues Landmark Conference play this week, with a mid-week series at Susquehanna University on Wednesday, April 20. First pitch of the twinbill is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.

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