Eagles Split at W&J as Superka Ties the Program Career Home Run Record
WASHINGTON, Pa.- The Juniata softball team earned a split at Washington and Jefferson as they dropped the first in 10 innings, 8-7, before winning 8-5 as the game was called after six innings due to darkness.
Dani Berlin led off the game with a single through the left side and stole second. Alison Superka reached on an error, and both runners advanced on Morgan Brumbaugh's groundout to first. Emily Eutsey drove in Berlin with a single and Claire Thomas's single plated Superka as JC led 2-0.
A two-run homer in the bottom half of the inning tied things at two, and an RBI double in the bottom of the second put the Presidents ahead.
In the fourth, Thomas led off with a double, and two batters later, Abby John walked. Reagan Goldsmith singled to load the bases, and everyone moved forward on a passed ball as Ashley Cheung scored after coming in to pinch run. John scored on another passed ball to put JC back in the lead.
John's RBI single in the fifth doubled the lead, but the inning ended with the bases loaded as the Eagles couldn't capitalize.
In the bottom of the seventh, with two outs, an error kept the game going, and a two-run single tied the game and forced extra innings.
Alex Douglass drove in a run in the eighth, but the Presidents answered in the bottom half of the inning. With the bases loaded, a single scored the runner from third, but Goldsmith threw out the runner at home to end the inning and keep the game going.
Kay Magill drove in Kassandra Roush in the ninth, but again, the Presidents manufactured a run to make it seven, all heading into the 10th.
Juniata went 1-2-3 in the top half, and the hosts used a sac bunt to get the runner third and, two batters later, drove in the winning run.
Thomas was 2-3 with a double, an RBI, and a walk in game one, while John was 1-4 with an RBI, a walk, and two runs scored. Berlin went 1-5 with a run scored, a walk, and two stolen bases.
In game two, the Eagles were trailing 5-2 through four innings, with a Roush double scoring Jessie Hunt in the first and a Superka double sending Douglass home in the third.
Douglass started the fifth with a bunt, and Superka followed with a single. Back-to-back doubles from Caleigh Love and Thomas tied the game. Thomas scored on a wild pitch while Magill drew a walk to give the Eagles the lead.
In the sixth, Superka smashed a ball over the fence in left to score Ashley Robuck and move her even with Liz Schmitt '09 for the program record for career home runs with 14.
The game was midway through the seventh, and the Eagles had added three more runs, but the game was called to darkness, so the six full innings are all that go on record.
Gracie Ruch got the win, going 2.2 innings while allowing three hits and a walk. Isabella Countryman started, tossing 3.1 innings and allowing five runs (one earned) on seven hits with a walk. Superka was 3-4 with three RBI and two runs scored, while Thomas was 2-3 with a double, two RBI, and a run scored.
Juniata returns to action next Sunday in Florida against St Mary's (Ind.) at 2:30.