HUNTINGDON, Pa. (March 22) - The Saint Vincent softball team picked up a split in its first road doubleheader of 2023, rebounding from a 7-2 game one loss to Juniata by defeating the Eagles by an 8-3 score in the nightcap.

With the split, SVC's record moves to 7-5 on the season, while Juniata closes the day with a 5-5 overall mark.

GAME 1: Juniata 7, Saint Vincent 2
 
In the opener, Juniata jumped out to a quick lead in the bottom of the first, sending seven batters to the plate and scoring two runs on four hits.
 
The Bearcats promptly cut the deficit in half in the top of the second. With two outs, Haley Bicko stroked an opposite-field single to left and scored on Leah Yoder's double to the gap in left-center.
 
Juniata added onto the lead in the bottom of the second, scoring an unearned run on a throwing error with none out. The Eagles would then load the bases on another error, a single and a walk, but SVC starter Shelby Dobrzynski pitched out of the jam, ending the inning with a pair of pop ups.

Saint Vincent would again make it a 1-run game in the top of the fourth. Bicko again started a two-out rally with a single to center, before Yoder followed with another one-base hit to put runners at first and second. Another single, this one from Katelyn Stokan, scored Yoder to make it a 3-2 game.
 
The Bearcats would get no closer, however, managing just one base runner over the final three frames, with a two-out single from Jessica LaPorte in the bottom of the fifth. Meanwhile, the Eagles would add on with three runs on four hits in the bottom of the fourth, and one final insurance run in the fifth to close out the game's scoring.
 
Yoder and Bicko each finished 2-for-3 at the plate for SVC, while Stokan, LaPorte, Nicolette Kloes and Olivia Persin all added singles.
 
Dobrzynski started in the circle and took the loss, allowing five earned runs on 11 hits in 3.1 innings with one walk. Olivia Bushore threw the final 2 2/3 frames and allowed just one run on three hits with four strikeouts.

GAME 2: Saint Vincent 8, Juniata 3

After both teams went down in order in the first inning, the Bearcat bats woke up in a big way in the top of the second. With one out, Bicko singled and Yoder doubled, putting runners at second and third. Bicko would score SVC's first run on a ground ball fielder's choice off of the bat of Katie Lampe, and Lily Rush singled to left to score Yoder and make it 2-0. Persin reached on a fielder's choice to load the bases, before Kloes cleared the bags with a three-run double to increase the lead to 5-0. LaPorte promptly smacked a ringing triple to right field to bring home Kloes with SVC's sixth run of the frame.

The Eagles scored one run in the bottom of the third, but the Bearcats answered by increasing their lead with a two-run top of the fourth. With two outs, Persin singled and stole second, before scoring on another Kloes double to make it 7-1. LaPorte followed by reaching base on an error to plate Kloes with the unearned run to increase the advantage to 8-1.

Juniata looked to rally late, scoring two runs on four hits in the bottom of the seventh, but SVC hurler Meghan Braun pitched out of trouble by stranding a pair of runners in scoring position after inducing a game-ending groundout.

Kloes led SVC's 10-hit attack, going 3-for-4 with two runs scored and a game-high four RBIs. Yoder finished 2-for-4 with a run scored, while Persin, LaPorte, Bicko, Lampe, Rush and Allie Prady all added singles. 

After closing out game one with a solid relief effort, Bushore got the start in game two, working two scoreless innings with just one hit. Braun earned the win, throwing the final five innings and allowing three runs with one strikeout. 

The Bearcats are now slated to open their Presidents' Athletic Conference schedule on Saturday, March 25, traveling to West Field in Homestead to take on Chatham University in a 1 p.m. doubleheader. 


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