Baran Goes the Distance as Eagles Win Game One, River Hawks Soar in Game Two

SELINSGROVE, Pa.- The Juniata softball team won, 4-1 before falling, 8-2 against Susquehanna at Sassafras Softball Field.

In game one, freshman, Cate Baran (Tyrone, Pa. / Tyrone Area HS) started in the circle for the Eagles as she struck out the first three Susquehanna batters in the bottom of the first. The first three innings were scoreless, as Baran only allowed two hits from the River Hawks. 

Alaney Vereshack (Smokerun, Pa. / Glendale) started off the bottom of the fourth getting walked.  A ground out to third base, advanced Vereshack to second. Maya McLeod (San Diego, Calif. / La Jolla Country Day School) singled to the shortstop to push Vereshack to third. McLeod then stole second. Alison Superka (Orefield, Pa. / Parkland HS) bunted to third base to reach first, which brought Vereshack home. Superka then stole second. Caleigh Love (Yardley, Pa. / Pennsbury HS) singled to left field and then advanced on a throw to bring Superka and McLeod across home plate. Love advanced to third on a wild pitch and then Maggie Peck (Philipsburg, Pa. / Philipsburg Osceola) singled to the pitcher, bringing in Love to lead, 4-0 over the River Hawks. 

In the bottom of the sixth Susquehanna got on the board with one to trail Juniata, 4-1. 

Baran held the River Hawks to three hits and one run while she had a career high seven strikeouts in game one. 

Susquehanna scored first in the bottom of the first to get things started in game two. In the top of the third, Juniata tied up the game, 1-1. Madison Wrightstone (York Haven, Pa. / Northeastern H.S.) started off the inning being walked. A sacrifice bunt to third base advanced Wrightstone to second and then she advanced to third on a wild pitch. Reagan Goldsmith (Middletown, Del. / Middletown) reached first on a fielders choice to shortstop, scoring Wrightstone. In the bottom of the third, the tie was short lived as Susquehanna tacked on three more runs. 

In the fourth, Susquehanna kept their momentum going as they scored four more runs to lead, 8-1. The fifth inning was scoreless for both teams. In the top of the sixth, Vereshack was walked and then advanced to second on a wild pitch. Goldsmith singled to the shortstop, advancing Vereshack to third. Superka singled to left field and advanced to second on the throw which allowed Vereshack to score. Juniata finished the inning behind, 8-2. 

The Eagles will travel to Catholic this Friday at 1:00PM.