(ALTOONA, PA:)  The Penn State Altoona softball team dropped its final two regular season home games of the 2008 season to non-conference foe Juniata College Thursday at the Ivyside Field.  The Eagles won game one 5-1 and used a seventh inning rally in the nightcap to claim an 8-7 victory.  Altoona fell to 4-26 overall while Juniata improved to 19-15 on the year.

In game one, Eagle pitcher Alyssa Erb hurled a complete game, scattering four hits, allowing one run, and striking out eight Lion batters.  Offensively, Juniata banged out eight hits and took advantage of four Altoona errors to score its five runs. 

After scoring one run in the third, Juniata broke the contest open with a four-run sixth inning that included five hits.  The Eagles left the based loaded in that frame and stranded eight runners in the game.

Altoona's lone run came in the bottom of the seventh after Nicolette Stimely (Lewistown, PA/Lewistown) walked and eventually scored on an Aisha Kassam (Lititz, PA/Warwick) fielders choice.  Lion pitcher Emily Cummins (Spring Mills, PA/Penns Valley) took the loss after allowing one run through three innings, and freshman Lindsey Laudermilch (Hershey, PA/Hershey) went the final four frames, giving up four runs and five hits.

The Eagles used a two-run seventh inning rally to steal game two after the Lions made a valiant comeback.  Trailing 6-2 entering the bottom of the fifth inning, the hosts batted around the order, scoring five runs on five hits to take their first lead of the day at 7-6.  After Megan Turiano (Tyrone, PA/Tyrone) and Karen Keim (Nazareth, PA/Nazareth) belted a pair of RBI singles, freshman Callie Lyle roped a bases clearing, two out double that scored three runs and pushed Altoona into the lead.

Cummins, who pitched the final five innings of game two for Altoona in relief of starter Chelsey Rhodes (Williamsburg, PA/Williamsburg), worked a 1-2-3 sixth inning before Juniata rallied in the seventh.  A leadoff walk and bunt single put runners on first and second for the Eagles in the final frame.  A sacrifice bunt moved the runners up a base before Liz Schmitt dropped a suicide squeeze to score Tara Carl and tie the game.  With runners on the corners, the Eagles executed a double steal to perfection as Schmitt stole second and Stacy Nagy scurried home for the game-winning run.

Penn State Altoona is back in action this weekend beginning Saturday at Medaille College.  First pitch of the doubleheader in Buffalo is set for 3:00 PM.

CONTACT:        Penn State Altoona Sports Information
                           Steve Crider  --  SID
                           814-949-5173
                           sac310@psu.edu