Eagles Softball Sweeps Royals in Home Opener

HUNTINGDON, Pa.- The Juniata softball team did something on Sunday that it hasn't done since 2009 and that was sweep Scranton. The Eagles won 11-6 in the first game and took the second game 8-4. The wins improve Juniata's overall record to 7-9 and 2-0 in the Landmark. The Royals drop to 5-6 and 0-2.

The victory in the first game was the first for Juniata over Scranton since the 2014 season and ends a four-game winless streak against the Royals. It is also the Eagles' first doubleheader sweep over a Landmark opponent since taking two from Drew in 2015.

A pair of freshmen had big performances for Juniata in the first game. Rachael Bernier (Bellefonte, Pa./Bellefonte) started Game 1 and went 5.1 innings. She gave up nine hits, six runs (five earned) and walked two while striking out two batters in securing her third win of the season. Alyssa Shedlock (State College, Pa./State College) was a perfect 3-for-3 with a double, three runs scored, and a run batted in.

The Royals struck first with a run in the first inning to take a 1-0 lead. JC responded in the bottom of the second. Jordan Wahrenberger (Shamong, NJ/Seneca) singled and Amy Chen (Philadelphia, Pa./Science Leadership Acad.) came in to pinch run. Chrisi Lerchen (Annville, Pa./Annville-Cleona) laid down a sacrifice bunt to move Chen to second. Shedlock would be hit by a pitch and Alicia Regnault (Bridgewater, NJ/Bridgwater-Raritan) walked to load the bases. Jennifer Carthew (New Paris, Pa./Chestnut Ridge) singled to left to bring home Chen. After Brooke Ridenour (Thurmont, Md./Catoctin) popped up for the second out, Shedlock scored on a wild pitch. An error by the Scranton shortshop then scored Regnault. A passed ball scored Carthew and by the end of the inning, Juniata was ahead 4-1.

Scranton got a run back in the top of the third to make it 4-2. Juniata added two runs in the bottom of the inning to increase its lead to 6-2.

The Royals inched closer with two runs in the fourth to cut the JC lead to 6-4. The Eagles got them back in their half of the inning on a Lerchen RBI single and a Shedlock RBI double to go ahead 8-4. Juniata tacked on two more in the fifth to lead 10-4. Scranton got the score to 10-6 until a Ridenour double plated a run in the sixth.

Kelsey Doell (Burlington, NJ/Doane Academy) pitched the last 1.2 innings for the Eagles. She allowed three hits while striking out two batters.

Kerigan Ammerman (Alexandria, Pa./Juniata Valley) finished 3-for-4 with two runs and a run batted in. She also picked up a stolen base. Allie Baney (State College, Pa./State College) was 1-for-3 with two two runs scored. Carthew batted 2-for-4 with a run and two RBIs.

In the second game, the Eagles trailed 3-1 after the third inning. In the fourth, JC tallied four runs on RBI singles by Ridenour, Baney, and Ammerman and took the lead 5-3. Shedlock smacked her second career homerun with a drive over the centerfield fence in the fifth.

Scranton scored once in the top of the sixth to make it 6-4. The Eagles got some breathing room in the bottom half with two runs.

Anna Baran (Tyrone, Pa./Tyrone) notched her first career victory as she lasted five innings and gave up three earned runs on eight hits. She walked one and struck out one. Lerchen got the save in two innings of relief.

Ammerman had another 3-for-4 performance and scored two runs while batting in a run. She swiped two bags. Shedlock hit 2-for-3 with her homerun and two runs scored. Baney was 2-for-4 in the leadoff spot and tallied two runs and two runs batted in. Regnault and Ridenour both went 2-for-3 at the plate.

Juniata will next host Trinity (D.C.) on Tuesday afternoon. The first game starts at 3:00 p.m. with the second game following around 5:00 p.m.