(Posted March 12, 2009)

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. -- Juniata College junior Alyssa Erb (Hollidaysburg, Pa./Hollidaysburg) picked up a pair of wins in the circle, leading the Eagle softball team to a doubleheader sweep on its final day of competition in Myrtle Beach, S.C.

Juniata downed Wentworth Institute of Technology, 2-0, in game one, and then finished off the twinbill with a 6-5 victory over LaRoche College.

In game one, Erb struck out 11 Wentworth batters while scattering five hits for the complete game shutout victory.

Juniata (6-2) scored what would prove to be the game-winning run in the first inning, when Sarah Eckard (Hollidaysburg, Pa./Hollidaysburg) reached on a lead off double, and moved to third on a Tara Carl (Duke Center, Pa./Otto-Eldred) sacrifice bunt. Eckard eventually crossed on a two-out single by Rachel Nagy (Nazareth, Pa./Nazareth).

The Eagles added a second run in the sixth, when Eckard singled home pinch runner Kelsey Shutt (Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin). Shutt was running in place of Jackie Morley (North Wales, Pa./Archbishop Wood), who led off the inning with a walk.

In game two, Juniata plated two runs in the top of the seventh and held LaRoche at bay in the bottom of the frame to escape with the victory.

Stacy Nagy (Millerton, Pa./Troy) opened the seventh with a single, and was sacrificed to second by Rachel Nagy. Liz Schmitt (Knoxville, Tenn./H. Frank Carey, N.Y.) drove in Stacy Nagy with a double, and Schmitt advanced to second on a Caley McCool (Spring Mills, Pa./Penns Valley) single. McCool was caught stealing second base, giving Juniata two outs, but Morley kept the inning alive with a walk. Melissa Moffat (Oceanside, Calif./Oceanside) hit a grounder to third, but LaRoche's Saber Horner overthrew first base allowing Moffat to reach and Schmitt to score.

LaRoche opened the bottom of the frame with a double by Kayla Strittmater, and was singled home by Vanessa Inks. Inks moved to third on a sacrifice bunt and a grounder back to the pitcher, but Horner popped up to short to end the rally and the game.

Freshman Pam Heinrichs (Spring Mills, Pa./Penns Valley) started in the circle for Juniata and allowed four runs, all earned, on 11 hits. She was lifted at the start of the sixth inning with the score tied 4-4, with Erb coming on in relief to earn her second win of the day.

Juniata will return to action on Tuesday, March 17, when it travels to Annville, Pa., to face Lebanon Valley College.

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