SELINSGROVE, PA - Susquehanna softball earned a hard-fought split against Juniata on Tuesday afternoon, scoring five runs in the fifth inning of the second game to win game two. Brianna Jones lined a three-run triple to turn a one-run deficit into a two-run lead.

Game 1: Juniata 5, Susquehanna 4

The Eagles took game one behind a four-run inning in the sixth, leading 2-0 until a three-run double broke the game wide open at 5-0. The River Hawks fought down the stretch, closing the gap to 5-4, but they were unable to overturn the deficit. Jones was strong in the first four innings, not allowing a run, but Juniata opened the scoring in the fifth and tacked on four more in the sixth.

The River Hawks had just two hits in the first five innings, but Emily Deitch was hit by a pitch and Lexi Palumbo homered to left center to bring the gap back to 5-2.

The River Hawks tacked two more on in the bottom of the seventh and brought the winning run to the plate, but Zoe Bork lined out on a diving catch to retire the side in the final frame.

The River Hawks scored their two runs on a two-run double from Deitch, bringing home Nicole Wuertz and Stevie Shaak.

Game 2: Susquehanna 7, Juniata 4

The River Hawks bounced back from the disappointment in game 1, winning 7-4 behind nine hits from the team, including two from Bork, Jones, Ashleigh Gerber, and Hailey Kaba.

The hosts fell behind in the first frame after a double down the line, an infield single and a throwing error. They were able to erase the deficit in the second, however, as Wuertz brought home Jones, who had reached on a single, on a sacrifice fly to right field.

Juniata added two runs in the fourth and another in the fifth as Susquehanna scored in between in the bottom of the fourth, Bork coming home to score on a Gerber single after the left fielder launched a triple, one of two on the day for the River Hawks, down the right field line.

Back-to-back-to-back bunts had the River Hawks' go-ahead run at the dish in the form of Palumbo after Kaba and Shaak both bunted their way on, and Deitch moved them over with a sacrifice bunt of her own. Palumbo walked, then Bork singled to right to close the gap to one.

It was at this point the game was blown open as Jones got ahold of an offspeed offering and ripped it into right center, clearing the bases while ending up on third herself.

Gerber singled her home in the very next at-bat and the Eagles were forced into a pitching change.

Amanda Amerman came from the bullpen to earn the win, going 4.1 innings while allowing eight hits. Hannah Foust started the game for the River Hawks, but her start ended after 2.2 innings after striking out a pair.

The River Hawks move to 9-15 after the split, and 2-6 in the Landmark Conference. They are in action at Sassafras Field again this coming weekend, as they will take on Scranton in a doubleheader that also represents Senior Day for the team, who have three seniors in Wuertz, Bork, and Nicole Plesh.