(Posted April 21, 2007)

ANNVILLE, Pa. - In a pair of close, well-pitched games the Juniata College softball team came away with a split of its conference doubleheader at Lebanon Valley Saturday afternoon, winning game one 1-0 and then falling 4-0 in game two. Freshman Alyssa Erb (Hollidaysburg/Hollidaysburg) tossed a complete-game shutout for Juniata (10-4, 3-9 Commonwealth) in the first game, but despite out-hitting the home team 7-6 in game two Juniata was unable to push any runs across in game two. The only scoring in the first game came from Juniata in the top of the second. Kaleigh Driscoll (Institute of Notre Dame/Fallston, Md.) singled to start the inning, and moved to second on an error. A sacrifice bunt moved her to third and then Stacy Nagy (Troy/Millerton) drove her home on a sacrifice fly for the game\'s only run. Erb and Lebanon Valley starter Jenn Roberts were in control the rest of the way as both pitchers went the distance and allowed only five hits. Erb fanned eight hitter in the game while Roberts whiffed nine. Lebanon Valley threatened in the fourth, sixth and seventh innings, but could not bring in the tying run. The home team had runners at second and third with two outs in the fourth before Erb recorded a strikeout to end the frame. In the sixth Lebanon Valley got consecutive singles with one out to put two runners on, and Erb answered by recording a pair of strikeouts. Then in the seventh, a lead-off hit and an error put the tying run at second base with one out. But Erb got the final two hitters to close out her ninth win of the year. Five different players finished with one hit for Juniata in the victory. Jessica Salisbury led Lebanon Valley with a pair of hits. Game two also featured strong pitching but the home team was able to break through as they scored single runs in four different innings to claim the win. Lebanon Valley got started in the bottom of the first as Jenn Parks drew a bases-loaded walk from Juniata starter Pam Mansell (Penns Valley/Centre Hall) to put the home team in front 1-0. The Flying Dutchmen pushed across another run against Manell in the third on a Kristen Uhas single. Mansell was charged with the loss as she went three innings, allowing two runs, one earned, on three hits. She struck out two. Erb pitched the final three innings in relief for Juniata and gave up two runs on three hits while recording five strikeouts. While Juniata knocked out two hits in the first and third innings, the Eagles could not get the timely hit off Lebanon Valley starter Kelly O\'Toole who went the distance for the win. She allowed no runs on seven hits and fanned five. Lebanon Valley added to its lead in the third. Audrey Benner doubled with one out, and then consecutive wild pitches from Erb allowed her to score. The Flying Dutchmen tacked on one more run in the sixth on a sacrifice fly from Lauren Sanford. Sarah Eckard (Hollidaysburg/Hollidaysburg) and Tara Carl (Otto-Eldred/Duke Center) each had two hits to lead the Juniata offense. Six different players had hits for Lebanon Valley in the game. Juniata is scheduled to take on Frostburg State on Monday in a non-conference doubleheader. ###

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Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.