(Posted April 22, 2004)

Lycoming 2, Juniata 1 (8 innings)
Lycoming 1, Juniata 0

Williamsport, Pa. - A pair of stellar pitching performances was not enough as the Juniata College softball team dropped a pair of non-conference games against Lycoming in Williamsport Thursday afternoon. Juniata lost game one 2-1 in eight innings and then fell by a 1-0 score in game two. Juniata fell to 19-10 on the year, while Lycoming improved to 14-14 on the season.

Juniata trailed by a run in game one going into the final inning, but tied the game up in the seventh. Amber Helsel (Claysburg-Kimmel/Claysburg) started the inning with Juniata's third hit of the gameâ??a solo home run that tied the contest at one. The homer was the second in as many games for Helsel. Becky Herr (Hamburg/Hamburg) followed with a single, but the Eagles would be unable to bring the go-ahead around.

The Eagles got the go-ahead run to third base with two outs in the top of the eighth but again could not bring the run in.

Then in the bottom of the inning, Melissa McCoy ended the game with a two-out single off Juniata starter Renae Hobbs (Mount Union/Mount Union).

Hobbs was outstanding throughout the game limiting the Warriors to seven hits and just the one run prior to the eighth. Lycoming's other came in the fifth when McCoy doubled home Morgan Rudelitch. Hobbs struck out two in the contest.

Herr was 2-for-3 in the game, while Casandra Dutzer (Danville/Riverside) and Helsel had the other two hits for Juniata.

Game two was another pitcher's duel as Eagle starter Lizzie Bartosik (Penn/Granger, In.) matched Lycoming hurler Amanda Gery throughout the game.

Lycoming jumped in front in the first as an unearned run put them on top 1-0. It was the only run either pitcher would allow as Bartosik allowed just two hits over six innings.

Juniata had three hits in the game with two of them coming in the fifth inning. Herr led off with a single, then moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. Allison D'Ambrosia (State College/Boalsburg) then added a single to put runners on first and third with one out. D'Ambrosia stole second to move into scoring position. But the threat ended when Leanne Leymeister (Blue Mountain/Orwigsburg) flied to center field and Herr was thrown out at the plate trying to score.

Amy Gable (Kennard-Dale/Stewartstown) had the only other hit of the game for Juniata.

The Eagles will be back in action on Saturday when they close the regular season with a conference doubleheader at Susquehanna. Juniata is currently holding on to the final spot in the Commonwealth Conference postseason standings.

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