Lady Eagles Tally 26 Hits Across Two Games in Two Wins Over Blue Jays

By Kenny Varner Jr.
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Updated: April 13, 2021

Courtesy of Juniata College Athletics

ELIZABETHTOWN, Pa.- The Juniata softball team picked up a pair of wins at Elizabethtown, Tuesday afternoon. The Eagles won game one, 3-2, and game two, 12-4.

Elizabethtown got on the board first in the first inning, scoring one. The next three innings were scoreless until Juniata scored three runs in the fifth. Maggie Peck (Philipsburg, Pa. / Philipsburg Osceola) started off the top of the fifth with a home run to left field. Cate Baran (Tyrone, Pa. / Tyrone Area HS) doubled to left-center and then advanced to third on a line out to right field. Ruthie Betts’ (Hawk Run, Pa. / West Branch Area Jr./Sr. H.S.) sac bunt allowed Baran to score. Caleigh Love (Yardley, Pa. / Pennsbury HS) was walked, then Alaney Vereshack (Smokerun, Pa. / Glendale) got hit by a pitch which advanced Love to second. Reagan Goldsmith (Middletown, Del. / Middletown) singled to right field and then advanced to second on a throw which brought home Love. The Blue Jays added on one more run in the bottom of the fifth, but it wasn’t enough as Juniata won game one, 3-2.

Baran recorded six strikeouts and got her third win of the season.

Juniata had explosive hitting in game two with a season-high 20 team hits. The Eagles got started off to a quick start, scoring two runs in the first. Peck singled to the pitcher. Maya McLeod (San Diego, Calif. / La Jolla Country Day School) then singled through the left side and Peck stole home. Alison Superka (Orefield, Pa. / Parkland HS) doubled down the left-field line to bring home McLeod. The Blue Jays hit a home run to left field to cut Juniata’s lead, 2-1. In the bottom of the second, Elizabethtown tacked on another run to tie it up, 2-2.

To start off the third, Peck doubled to center field. McLeod tripled to center field to bring home Peck. Superka hit a sacrifice fly to left field to bring in McLeod. The Eagles now lead, 4-2. Kassandra Roush (Indiana, Pa. / Marion Center Area HS) reached on a fielder’s choice. Betts singled to right-center to advance Roush to second. Love singled to center field, to bring Roush across home plate. Etown added on another run in the third.

Goldsmith started off the fourth with a single to third base. She then stole second and third bases. A ground out to shortstop brought in two runners, to extend the Eagles lead, 7-2. In the bottom of the fourth, the Blue Jays scored another run. In the fifth, Goldsmith bunted to third. With a Peck triple to left-center, Goldsmith ran home. McLeod doubled to right-center to bring home Peck. Catherine Miller (Huntingdon, Pa. / Huntingdon Area) singled through the left side while McLeod crossed home. After the fifth, Juniata led Elizabethtown, 10-4.

To start off the sixth, Betts doubled to left-center, and then Kass Gibson (Hampstead, Md. / Winters Mill HS) came into pinch run. Love singled to left field to bring Gibson home. Love then advanced to second on a wild pitch and was brought home by a Baran single up the middle.

Both Peck and McLeod were a homerun short of the cycle.

The Eagles are on a BYE this coming weekend and will return to the field, April 24th as they travel to Drew for a doubleheader at 1:00 PM.