Eagles Split Results in First Day of Florida Trip

CLERMONT, Fla.- The Juniata softball team opened their spring break trip with split results on day one. They beat Saint Mary's College of Indiana 5-4 while falling to Carroll University of Wisconsin 7-3.  

Claire Thomas' RBI groundout following two steals from Abby John in the top of the fifth inning proved the winning run against Saint Mary's, breaking a 4-4 tie up that point. She had two RBIs on the day, going 1-for-4, while Alison Superka and Reagan Goldsmith each had a double. John stole two bases to score to winning run. 

Maryn Swank went all seven innings and totaled four earned runs on eight hits, eight strikeouts, and six walks. 

Juniata got a pair of runners on with one out in the first, but a fielder's choice play at third and a flyout ended the inning. In the bottom half, Swank struck out the side while allowing one walk.  

Saint Mary's got runners into scoring position into second via a single, sacrifice bunt, and a walk, but a Swank induced a fielder's choice and popout to escape the inning. 

Goldsmith's leadoff double in the third started a two-run inning for Juniata. She swiftly stole third base, and an overthrow from the catcher allowed her to score on the play. With two outs, Superka walked, Jessie Hunt singled, and  Thomas hit a single to right field to score Superka before a groundout ended the inning. 

The Belles didn't let the lead stand, as they struck for three runs in the bottom half of the inning. They opened the inning with two singles and a walk, followed by an RBI groundout. A passed ball allowed the second run to score before a popout double play caught the runner out at second base to get two outs. 

Another passed ball allowed the third run to cross the plate while the Belles loaded the bases again on two walks and a single. Swank generated a groundball to second to get out of the frame. 

Juniata added two runs, making use of a pair of Saint Mary's errors. Kassandra Roush opened the inning with a single, followed by Ashley Robuck reaching on an error. Robuck stole second, then a throwing error on a groundball to shortstop allowed both runs to score. The Belles then retired the next three batters. 

Saint Mary's leveled the score in the bottom half with a one-out single and a two-out single to center field that scored the runner from first base. 

Hunt started the fifth by reaching on another throwing error at shortstop, and then John pinch-ran, swiping both second and third. A Thomas groundball to shortstop allowed John to score the eventual winning run. 

Neither side got into scoring position again until the seventh inning, as Juniata got Superka aboard with a one-out double and Hunt on an error in the seventh, but they could not add to the lead. A leadoff single and one-out double put the winning run on second base with one out for the Belles, but Swank struck out the next two batters for the win. 

Carroll scored one run in the second, two in the third, and scored four in the fifth inning of a controlled 7-3 defeat of Juniata. 

Hunt had Juniata's best offensive game, totaling three of the team's six hits, two doubles, and three RBI. The defense struggled, making four errors throughout the game. 

Carroll got runners in scoring position with one out to open the game, but Rylea Lynch generated a flyout and groundout to first base.  

In the second inning, Carroll got a runner to second with one out via a fielder's choice and stolen base, while they scored a run on the next play on an infield throwing error. They added two more in the third inning in a sequence that featured two walks, a double, and a single. 

Juniata scored its first base runner in the bottom of the fourth inning on a Hunt double followed by a Superka walk with one out, but Carroll retired the next two batters.  

The Pioneers extended their lead to seven runs in the fifth inning thanks to three singles, a walk, and an outfield error. 

Juniata was able to get on the board in the fifth inning and seventh inning via Hunt. In the fifth, she scored a two-out, two-RBI single, while she knocked in a run with a two-out double in the seventh.  

Countryman ended the game with 2 and 2/3 innings with two hits on no earned runs.  

Juniata plays a pair of games on Monday as they face Coast Guard and Lakeland.