Softball Offense Held in Check by Wesley

DOVER, DE- Juniata traveled to Delaware for a Sunday afternoon doubleheader tilt with Wesley College. The Wolverines shutout the Eagles 4-0 in the first game and won 3-1 in the second.

Chrisi Lerchen (Annville, PA/Annville-Cleona) went the distance for Juniata in Game 1. She gave up six hits, four earned runs, three walks, and struck out two batters. At the plate, Kerigan Ammerman (Alexandria, PA/Juniata Valley) and Paige Dennison (East Berlin, PA/Bermudian Springs) both were 2-for-3 with Ammerman hitting a double. Brooke Walls (Mifflinburg, PA/Mifflinburg) had the only other hit for JC and finished 1-for-3.

In Game 2, Holly Bettinger (Hummelstown, PA/Lower Dauphin) took the bump for the Eagles. She went six innings and gave up 10 hits, three earned runs, walked one, and struck out one.

Wesley scored once in the bottom of the second to take a 1-0 lead. Juniata responded in the top of the third. With one out, Dennison singled to left field. Walls reached on a fielding error by the Wolverine third baseman and advanced to second on a throwing error. Dennison came around to score. The Eagles looked for more as Ammerman singled to move Walls to third. The threat ended when Bettinger struck out swinging and Ammerman was caught stealing.

The Wolverines scored once in the fourth to take a 2-1 lead. Another run came across in the sixth inning and Juniata was held off of the basepaths as Wesley took the second game.

Dennison again was 2-for-3 and had a run. Ammerman, Katie Schroeder (Kempton, PA/Kutztown), Brooke Ridenour (Thurmont, MD/Catoctin), and Lindsey Kosicki (Patton, PA/Cambria Heights) all were 1-for-3.  Schroeder also had a stolen base.

Juniata will play its final regular season doubleheader on Tuesday. They will travel to take on Pitt-Bradford starting at 4 p.m. with the second game beginning around 6 p.m.