By Nicole Hauck, Staff Writer
The Susquehanna softball team split a doubleheader against Juniata winning the first game 12–3 in five innings and losing the second game 4–1 in seven innings on Sunday, April 20 in Huntingdon, Pa.
During the first game Juniata earned the first two runs in the bottom of the first inning.
At the top of the second inning, sophomore infielder Kody Streeter hit her second solo home run of the season to put the River Hawks on the board 2-1 as they trailed behind Juniata.
A grand slam was then hit by freshman infielder Kiara Bryant which gave the River Hawks a 5-3 lead in the third inning and allowed freshman catcher Katie Koch, junior outfielder Kasey Bost and senior designated player Jill Ahrens to score.
The River Hawks continued to dominate over the Eagles, tallying three more runs in the fourth inning and leading 8-3. Susquehanna players that scored in the fourth were sophomore outfielder Katherine Fahsbender, junior outfielder Emily Lear and Koch.
In the fifth inning, Bost shined and got her fifth career dinger of the season over centerfield, scoring Koch and freshman infielder Erin Bean and extending Susquehanna’s lead 12-3.
Another top performer of the game was Fahsbender who went 2-2 at the plate.
In the second game of the day, neither team scored until the third inning. The Eagles scored two runs in the bottom of the third.
The River Hawks came back in the beginning of the fourth inning when Fahsbender hit a double towards left field that allowed freshman infielder Kiara Bryant to reach home plate.
As the fourth and fifth innings continued, sophomore pitcher Gabby Bubba held the Eagles from scoring and kept the score 2–1, the River Hawks behind.
It was not until the sixth inning that the Eagles put away Susquehanna and had a three run advantage due to an error from Susquehanna.
Fahsbender was a top performer of the game with one RBI and two double hits.
“We really needed that first win to secure our spot in the conference tournament,” Fahsbender said. “Even though we lost the second game, we’re still growing as a team and learning how to deal with tough losses.”
The River Hawks are currently 18-13 and 7-5 in conference play and are ranked third in the Landmark Conference. Their next match-up will be against Wilkes in a non-conference doubleheader at 5 p.m. on April 24 in Wilkes-Barre, Pa.
