Swank's Gem in Game One & a Big Fifth Inning in Game Two Sees Softball Sweep Rangers

HUNTINGDON, Pa.- The Juniata softball used strong pitching in game one and an eight-run fifth in game two to complete the comeback as they won 6-2 and 14-10, Friday afternoon at West End Field. 

In game one, the Rangers struck first, as a double steal put them up 1-0 in the top half of the first. 

In the bottom of the second, Claire Thomas smashed a home run to center field to tie the game. 

In the third, Kassandra Roush crushed a double to right center, and Alex Douglass reached on a bunt, pushing K. Roush to third. Alison Superka reached safely while Douglass got to second, and Roush scored. Jessie Hunt ripped a three-run homer that put the Eagles up 5-1. 

A Drew RBI single in the top of the fourth, and Juniata answered in the bottom half of the inning as Dani Berlin scored on an error by the second baseman to complete the scoring. 

Maryn Swank went the distance to win in game one. She scattered 11 hits, allowed two runs, and had two strikeouts.  

Game two was an offensive slugfest. The Rangers scored the first four runs on two hits and an Eagle error. 

Madison Brumbaugh cut the deficit in half as she walloped a two-run homer in the second. 

The Rangers responded with two more runs in the third, but a Thomas RBI single through the left side and a Caleigh Love three-run shot tied the game at 6-6.  

A two-run Ranger double in the top of the fourth saw them surge ahead again, but that would be their final lead of the game. 

The Eagles mounted an eight-run fifth with six hits and took advantage of a Ranger error. The inning featured Hunt's second homer of the day, this one of the two-run variety, while Superka added a three-run double during the inning.  

Drew scored once in the seventh to complete the scoring.  

Gracie Ruch came in relief to get the win, going 4.2 innings and allowing four runs on eight hits. Eight Eagles had a hit in the game, five of them having multiple as Superka, Hunt, and Thomas had three apiece.

Juniata will host Lycoming on Wednesday beginning at 3:00.