Juniata Softball Eliminates Moravian 4-2
SELINSGROVE, Pa. - No. 4 Juniata used a fourth inning rally to stay alive in the Landmark Softball Tournament and eliminate No. 2 Moravian.
After two and a half scoreless innings, Moravian's Dior George was hit by a pitch to lead off the bottom of the third. She moved to second on a sacrifice and scored on Cassie Ernst's RBI single up the middle off her hands.
The Greyhounds held onto the 1-0 lead through six and needed just three outs to close out the game. Juniata pitcher Aly Smith sparked an Eagles' rally in the top of the seventh with a lead-off single. Meghan Decker sacrificed pinch runner Brooke Walls to second and Jennifer Ashcraft singled. Holly Bettinger drew the walk to load the bases. With two outs, Katie Schroeder doubled deep to left center to clear the bases and give Juniata the 3-1 lead. Stephanie Frith added a RBI single through the right side to add an insurance run.
Moravian put together a two-out rally in the bottom of the seventh to score a run on Dior George's double down the left field line, but the Eagles finished with the 4-2 win.
Juniata finished with five hits from five different players. Schroeder went 1-for-3 with three RBI.
George led the Greyhounds at the plate hitting 2-for-3 with a RBI.
Smith pitched the complete game for the Eagles racking up six strikeouts while scattering four hits.
Alyssa Fegely went the distance for Moravian with four strikeouts.
For the first time in Landmark history, a team other than Moravian will win the softball championship. Juniata survives to face Susquehanna in the second game of the day at 11:30 a.m.