Offensive Explosion Leads Eagles to Pair of Victories

LEESBURG, Fla.- The Juniata softball team earned a pair of victories on their second day of The Spring Games. The Eagles defeated Sage, 20-1 and Newbury, 20-9.

In game one against Sage College, the Gators struck first scoring their only run of the game. The Eagles started off strong, scoring 11 runs in the first inning. Ashley Clark (Saxton, Pa. / Tussey Mountain) got the Eagles going with a grand slam bringing in Maggie Peck, Abby Ebright (Harrisburg, Pa. / Central Dauphin East HS), and Alyssa "Sheddy" Shedlock (State College, Pa. / State College). With the bases loaded again, Amy Chen (Philadelphia, Pa. / Science Leadership Academy) singled to right field, advancing Natalie Krug (Northern Cambria, Pa. / Northern Cambria) and Catherine Miller (Huntingdon, Pa. / Huntingdon Area). Maya McLeod (San Diego, Calif. / La Jolla Country Day School) crossed home plate. Molly Ulrich (Homer, N.Y. / Homer Central) doubled to right center, sending home Chen, Krug, and Miller. Ebright singled to right field, advancing Ulrich across home. Peck then singled down the left field line, advancing Ebright to second. After a ground out to the shortstop, Peck and Ebright advanced. McLeod then singled and advanced to second on a throw also advancing Peck and Ebright home.

The Eagles added on two more runs in the second as both Krug and Shedlock scored. With Juniata up, 13-1 after the second inning, the Eagles scored five more runs in third. With the bases loaded after a ground out to the catcher, Ulrich and Chen advanced while Krug scored. Ebright singled to the pitcher, advancing Ulrich and Chen. Peck then homered, also running in Ebright and Ulrich. After the third, Juniata led Sage, 18-1. 

To start off the fourth inning, McLeod singled to the shortstop. Miller then hit a home run, bringing her and McLeod across home plate. 

Clark went 1-1, with 4 RBI and a home run. Miller went 2-2, with 2 RBi, and a home run. Peck went 3-3, with 3 RBI, and a home run. Clark, Miller and, Peck all earned their first career home runs. 

Game two saw another offensive explosion by Juniata as they defeated Newbury, 20-9. The Nighthawks started off the game, scoring three runs in the first. Juniata answered back as they scored four runs in the second. An Ebright double to center field, advanced Ulrich and Shedlock, while Chen crossed home. After Peck was hit by a pitch, she then advanced to second while Ebright advanced to third and Shedlock advanced on a wild pitch. A McLeod walk, advanced Ebright home. At the bottom of the second, Nighthawks added on another run to tie the game, 4-4. 

The Eagles tacked on six more runs in the third innning to make it, 10-4. In the bottom of the fourth, Newbury cut their deficit by adding two more runs. In the sixth, Clark doubled to left field then Miller singled to right field sending Clark home. In the sixth inning, Juniata added four more runs by Ulrich, Peck, Ebright, and Clark. 

The bottom of the sixth, Newbury tacked on three more runs to make the score, 15-9. In the final inning, Juniata added on five more runs to close out the game. Shedlock doubled to center and Ulrich scored. Ebright and Peck were then walked advancing Shedlock. Clark singled to third base, advancing Peck and Ebright while Shedlock crossed home. Clark, Peck, and Ebright all then advanced on a wild pitch. Miller singled to center field, moving McLeod to second and advancing Clark and Peck to home plate. 

Juniata will return to action Wednesday as they will face Olivet at 11:45am and Mt. St. Vincent at 2:00pm.