WINCHESTER, Va. – The Shenandoah University softball team recorded its third straight non-league doubleheader split Tuesday by taking one of two from Juniata.
Shenandoah (5-9) rebounded from a 3-1 loss to the Eagles (4-4) in the opener to win, 7-6, in the nightcap.
GAME ONE RECAP
Juniata came one strike from throwing a no-hitter against the Hornets as shortstop
Tiffany Bower drilled her second home run of the season on a 1-2 with two outs in the bottom of the seventh of the Eagles 3-1 victory.
Juniata scored single runs in the first, fourth, and fifth innings and rode the right arm of pitcher Cate Baran (3-2) to the victory. Baran struck out five, allowed just the one hit and did not walk a batter in throwing the one-hitter. The junior retired the first 15 SU hitters in order before pinch hitter
Savannah Thorne led off the Shenandoah sixth by reaching on a muffed throw at first base.
Kayla Stephenson (3-6) took the loss for the Hornets. She gave up the three runs (two earned) on six hits while walking two in her five innings of work.
Taylor Smith pitched a scoreless sixth and seventh and gave up a pair of hits.
GAME TWO RECAP
A seven-spot in the third for the Hornets, aided by three Juniata errors, put SU in total control of the eventual 7-6 victory.
Shenandoah led, 7-2, heading into the seventh and saw the Eagles for four runs on one hit, three walks, and a wild pitch before Smith, who came on in relief of starter
Savannah Thorne five batters into the frame, induced a game-ending groundout.
Thorne improves to 2-1 on the spring after allowing five runs on 10 hits and five walks in 6 1/3 innings. The save is Smith's third of the year.
Coach
Courtney Allen's club scored those seven third-inning runs on five hits, a walk, a hit batsman and the three errors that led to four of the runs being unearned.
Bower had a two-run double, Smith an RBI groundout, and Thorne an RBI single.
Brenna Snyder and
Arlene Miller both finished 2 for 4 with a run scored.
Danielle McNeill had the squad's remaining hit.
UP NEXT
Shenandoah begins ODAC play Saturday in a 1 p.m. doubleheader at No. 10 Randolph-Macon.
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