(Posted April 3, 2004)

Juniata 5, Albright 2 (10 innings)
Juniata 4, Albright 2

4/3/04--Reading, Pa. ? The Juniata College softball team evened its conference record with a pair of victories?one of them in ten innings?over conference opponent Albright in Reading Saturday afternoon. Juniata claimed a 5-2 win in 10 innings in game one, then earned a 4-2 win in game two to improve its record to 11-4 overall and 3-3 in the conference. Albright fell to 9-10 overall and 3-3 in the conference.

Sophomore Renae Hobbs (Mount Union/Mount Union) went the distance in game one to earn her seventh victory of the season. She allowed just two runs on five hits in ten innings of work while recording one strikeout.

The Eagles broke a scoreless tie when they pushed across one run in the top of the fourth inning. Becky Herr (Hamburg/Hamburg) delivered a two out solo home run off Albright starter Kelli Kaelber. Kaelber allowed just five hits over the course of the game.

The home team forced extra innings by scoring one run in the bottom of the seventh. Meredith Mayes lead off the inning with a solo homer of her own to tie the score at one.

After neither team could manage offense through the first two extra frames, Juniata took control of the game by scoring four runs in the top of the tenth. Gabie Benson (Mount Union/Mount Union) drove in one run with an RBI single, then Allison D?Ambrosia (State College/Boalsburg) delivered a two-RBI double to extend the Juniata lead.

Albright would add one run in the bottom of the frame but Juniata would hold on to earn the win.

Benson was 2-for-4 in the game, while three other players notched one hit.

In game two, the Eagles were forced to come from behind after Albright scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the first. Juniata sophomore pitcher Lizzie Bartosik (Penn/Granger, In.) allowed two runs on a pair of hits in the first, but avoided further damage by leaving the bases loaded. She would scatter another five hits and keep Albright off the scoreboard to earn her fourth win of the season.

Juniata got the offense rolling in the top of the second. Leanne Leymeister earned a one-out walk, then came around to score on a double from D?Ambrosia, which brought Juniata within one run.

The Eagles then notched three runs in the top of the third to take control. Amber Helsel (Claysburg-Kimel/Claysburg) doubled to bring home Jen Piston (Central Bucks East/Jamison). Sarah Patterson (Danville/Danville) followed with a two-run home run. It was the first homer of the season for Patterson.

Juniata had just three hits in the game, all of them coming in the second and third innings.

The Eagle softball team will be back in action on Wednesday when they host non-conference foe Gettysburg for a doubleheader.

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