Eagles Notch First Win but Get Overpowered in Final Innings in Game Two

MINNEOLA, Fla.- The Juniata softball team split a pair of games on their second day of The Spring Games. The Eagles defeated Alverno, 8-1 but fell 5-2 to DeSales.

In game one against Alverno, the Eagles started off strong, picking up two runs in the first. Maggie Peck (Philipsburg, Pa. / Philipsburg Osceola) singled through the left side. Ashley Clark (Saxton, Pa. / Tussey Mountain) doubled to left center and Peck scored on the play. Maya McLeod (San Diego, Calif. / La Jolla Country Day School) singled up the middle as Clark went home. Alverno cut Juniata's, 2-0 lead as they scored one in the bottom of the first. The second through fourth innings were scoreless. 

Juniata picked up two more runs in the fifth to extend their lead over Alverno. To start off the fifth, Peck reached first on an error by the shortstop then advanced to second on a ground out to second base. Catherine Miller (Huntingdon, Pa. / Huntingdon Area) singled up the middle to bring Peck home. Katie Mace (Dornsife, Pa. / Line Mountain) pinch ran for Miller who then stole second. Ruthie Betts (Hawk Run, Pa. / West Branch Area Jr./Sr. H.S.) singled through the right side and advanced to second on the throw. Mace scored on Betts' hit. After five innings, the Eagles led 4-1 against the Infernos.

The Eagles had a strong sixth inning as they scored four more runs to seal the, 8-1 win over the Inferno. Erica Lybarger (Beaverdale, Pa. / Forest Hills Jr.-Sr. H.S.) pinch hit for Natalie Krug (Northern Cambria, Pa. / Northern Cambria). Lybarger doubled down the left field line and Krug went back in for Lybarger to run.  Molly Ulrich (Homer, N.Y. / Homer Central) then singled to third base and Krug advanced to third and then Ulrich stole second. Ulrich advanced to third on an error and Krug scored on a throwing error by the catcher. Peck singled to third base to bring Ulrich home. Clark homered to left field, to also bring in Peck. 

Miller struck out 13 of the 26 batters she faced. Clark went 3-2 with two doubles, a home run, and two RBI's. 

Game two saw the Eagles start off strong again until DeSales picked up their momentum in the final three innings. The first three innings were scoreless but JC took the lead in the fourth as they got a 2-0 lead over the Bulldogs. Madison Wrightstone (York Haven, Pa. / Northeastern H.S.) was walked and advanced to third after Krug doubled up the middle. DeSales scored two runs in the fifth to even the score at 2-2 then they took the lead in the sixth as they picked up two more runs and then added one more in the seventh to win, 5-2. 

The Eagles return to action, Wednesday as they face Beloit at 4PM and Westfield St. at 6:30PM.