HUNTINGDON, Pa.- The Juniata softball took one win from their doubleheader with Mt. Aloysius on Tuesday afternoon, winning 2-1 in the first game before falling 3-1 in game two.
As evidenced by the scoreline, game one would see the pitchers on both sides putting up strong outings. Starter Cate Baran (Tyrone, Pa. / Tyrone) went the distance, allowing one run on six hits while striking out seven batters to earn her fourth win of the season. The Eagles' offense claimed the lead early, putting up one run in the bottom of the first while getting two of the three total hits they'd have in the game. Baran led off with a single before stealing second and was then advanced to third by a single from Maya McLeod (San Diego, Calif. / La Jolla Country Day). A fielder's choice then brought Baran home for the opening run. After a couple of empty frames, Mt. Aloysius responded with a run of their own in the top of the third inning. The pitchers continued to dominate, with the winning run eventually coming in the bottom of the sixth for Juniata. McLeod would reach base on a walk before eventually being brought home by a sacrifice bunt from Alison Superka (Orefield, Pa. / Parkland). That one run lead would stand for the remainder of the game, with Baran putting the Mounties away in order in the top of the seventh.
The offenses would only find slightly more success in game two, with more strong pitching keeping the score low. Starter Catherine Miller (Huntingdon, Pa. / Huntingdon) put in a strong complete-game outing, ending up with the loss despite allowing only two earned runs on eight hits and striking out seven batters. The teams remained at a 0-0 deadlock for the first four innings before Mt. Aloysius broke through for two runs in the top of the fifth. Juniata would respond with one of their own in the bottom of the inning, with Baran hitting an RBI single. That would ultimately be the only run Juniata could muster in the game, with the Mounties keeping them off the board the rest of the way and adding one more run of insurance in the top of the seventh.
The results see the Eagles move to 6-14 on the season, with more games awaiting them this week. They'll travel to Lebanon Valley for a doubleheader on Thursday, before visiting Landmark opponent Elizabethtown for a Saturday doubleheader and a chance for Juniata to get their first conference win of the season. They'll then return home for a Sunday afternoon doubleheader against Penn State-Fayette.
