Softball Splits at St. Vincent

LATROBE, Pa.- Juniata softball rebounded from a tough loss in Game 1 to win 5-4 in Game 2 on Saturday afternoon against St. Vincent. The Eagles' record now stands at 5-9 overall.

In Game 1, the Eagles fell behind 2-0 in the first inning. Juniata responded in the top of third as Alyssa Shedlock (State College, Pa./ State College) led off with her first career homerun to make it 2-1. Brooke Ridenour (Thurmont, Md./Catoctin) singled but then was out on a fielder's choice that put Kerigan Ammerman (Alexandria, Pa./Juniata Valley) on base. Ammerman stole second to move into scoring position. Jennifer Carthew (New Paris, Pa./Chestnut Ridge) grounded out to third and Ammmerman would end up scoring on a throwing error by the St. Vincent first baseman and tied the game at 2-2.

The Bearcats broke the tie with a four-run bottom of the third inning to go ahead 6-2. Another two runs came across in the fourth inning. The Eagles picked up a run as Shedlock scored on a fielder's choice in the top of the fifth. St. Vincent would win by the score of 9-3.

Shedlock went 2-for-2 at the plate with her homerun and a double. She scored two runs. Ridenour was 2-for-3. Chrisi Lerchen (Annville, Pa./Annville-Cleona) had two doubles.

In the second game, Juniata trailed 2-1 after the second inning. In the top of the third with one out, Molly Ulrich (Homer, NY/Homer Central) singled up the middle. Lerchen followed with a single that moved Ulrich to third but a throwing error by the St. Vincent right fielder allowed Ulrich to score and tie the contest at 2-2. The Eagles took the lead on an Abby Ebright (Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin East) RBI single and went up 4-2 on a Shedlock RBI single.

The Bearcats moved to within one run in the fourth. JC got the run back in the top of sixth as Jordan Wahrenberger's (Shamong, NJ/Seneca) single to right field plated Shedlock. St. Vincent made it 5-4 in the bottom portion of the inning. The Bearcats got a runner on base with one out in the bottom of the seventh but starting pitcher Rachael Bernier (Bellefonte, Pa./Bellefonte) got a lineout and groundout to end the game and secure the victory for the Eagles.

Bernier went the distance for JC as she picked up her second career victory. She gave up four runs (three earned) on eight hits and walked one. She struck out four batters.

Ulrich was 3-for-4 in the leadoff spot with a run scored. Shedlock finished 3-for-3 with two runs batted in and a run scored. Ebright and Lerchen were both 2-for-4 with Ebright getting a double, a run scored, and a run batted in.

The Eagles host Scranton in their home opener tomorrow afternoon at West End Field. The game is scheduled to begin at 1:00 p.m.