Juniata Drops Games to St. Joseph's (Me.) and Marywood

CLERMONT, Fla. – A late rally in the sixth inning against Marywood fell short and the Juniata softball team dropped two at Hancock Monday. The Eagles fell 11-6 against the Pacers and 11-2 to the Monks of St. Joseph's (Me.).

Game 1 – Juniata vs. St. Joseph's (Me.) 

The Monks jumped ahead 1-0 to start game one in Clermont. They opened up their offense in the top of the fourth and picked up five runs on six hits. 

Juniata remained calm and pushed to make some offensive strides in the bottom half of the inning. A fielder's choice got Abby Ebright (Harrisburg, Pa. / Central Dauphin East) on first to set up the first run of the inning. Jennifer Carthew (New Paris, Pa. / Chestnut-Ridge) singled out to left, advancing Ebright to second. With one out, Holly Bettinger (Hummelstown, Pa. / Lower Dauphin) singled to load the bases for the Eagles.

A wild pitch would bring in Ebright and JC was on the board. An error from the catcher kept the inning alive, as Kerigan Ammerman (Alexandria, Pa. / Juniata Valley) took first and Carthew scored.

The Monks would shut Juniata out the rest of the game and go on to win by an 11-2 final.

Carthew, Bettinger, Allie Baney (State College, Pa. / State College Area) and Chrisi Lerchen (Annville, Pa.. / Annville-Cleona) picked up one hit a-piece for JC in game one. 

Carthew started on the mound versus St. Joseph's (Me.). She tossed four complete innings and recorded one strikeout. Alyssa Fasolo (Altoona, Pa. / Altoona Area) pitched the final two innings of the game.

Game 2 – Juniata vs. Marywood

Down 5-0 heading into the fourth inning, Juniata was looking for an offensive spark.

Paige Dennison (East Berlin, Pa. / Bermudian Springs) was nearly hit by a pitch before she took the next pitch and sent the ball deep out to center field.

Ammerman then reached first on an error from the Marywood shortstop. A sacrifice bunt from Baney moved Ammerman to second for the first out. With Bettinger at the plate, Ammerman stole third base.

Bettinger grounded out to the second basemen to bring in Ammerman for JC's second and final run of the inning. 

The Pacers responded with two of their own in the bottom half of the inning and Juniata was faced with a five-run deficit again. 

A single through the left side from Dennison brought in Ebright and Carthew with two outs. 

The Eagles got two quick outs in the bottom half of the inning before Marywood loaded the bases. The defense tightened to hold MU to just one run.

In the top of the seventh, Juniata found themselves down 11-4. The Eagles showed their character and rallied together. 

Lindsey Kosicki (Patton, Pa. / Cambria Heights) doubled down the third base line to start things off. Carthew stepped to the plate and ripped a single through the right side to bring in Kosicki. Ebright doubled to right centerfield and the Pacers were forced to make a pitching change. 

Dennison approached the plate and was hit by pitcher Amanda Bridgwood. The Eagles have been hit by pitches seven times this season. 

An error from the shortstop brought Carthew across the plate and kept bases loaded for the Eagles. 

Marywood would get out of the inning and go on to win the game 11-6. 

Sarah Sotelo (Fairfax, Va. / Paul VI Catholic) tossed five complete innings for the Eagles and recorded three strikeouts. Kelsey Doell (Burlington, N.J. / Doane Academy) came in as relief and threw one inning, gave up just two hits and struck out one. 

Juniata looks ahead to night games Wed. March 9 against Penn State-Brandywine at 5:00 p.m. and Emerson at 7:00 p.m.