MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. - Johnson State softball opened their 2012 season with six games in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina over the weekend. The Badgers finished the trip 1-5 overall but were competitive throughout and provide reason for optimism as they return to the northeast. JSC will now travel to Elms College on Sunday, March 18 for a doubleheader.
Friday, March 9 - Juniata 6, Johnson State 2
Johnson would score a single run in the top of the first inning but Juniata put three runs on the board in the bottom of the second to gain control. They would tack on a pair of runs in the firth and one more in the sixth to hold off the Badgers for the 6-2 win.
Meagan Russ (Burlington, Vt./Burlington) pitched four innings, struck out one, and walked one to take the loss for JSC while Kelsea Decker allowed just three hits and struck out 15 to earn the complete game win for Juniata.
Maria Gleason (Enosburg Falls, Vt./Enosburg) went 1-for-3, scored a run, and stole a base to pace the JSC offense. Tanya Randall (Fryeburg, Maine/Fryeburg Academy) also went 1-for-3 and drove in a run.
Friday, March 9 - Guilford 7, Johnson State 1
In game two of the day Guilford College scored a pair of first-inning runs to jump ahead 2-0 and eventually finish with a 7-1 victory. Johnson would score their run in the top of the fifth inning to make the score 2-1 but Guilford matched that run in the bottom of the fifth and then scored four in the bottom of the sixth inning to pull away.
Johnson's Kristy McDonnell (Quechee, Vt./Hartford) was tagged with the loss as she pitched three innings and allowed eight hits while walking just one. Guilford saw Shelby Bowser pitch four innings in relief to pick up the win.
Amber McCullock (Morrisville, Vt./Peoples) had a pair of singles in three at-bats for Johnson while Amanda McLean (Woodhaven, N.Y./HS for Environmental Studies) went 1-for-2 with a double and a run scored.
Saturday, March 10 - Johnson State 11, Hilbert 7
The Badgers picked up their first win of the season in game one of day two of the spring trip by rallying from six runs down with three runs in the fourth inning and seven runs in the fifth and eventually grab the 11-7 win over Hilbert College.
Johnson's Meagun Russ (Burlington, Vt./Burlington) relieved Kristy McDonnell (Quechee, Vt./Hartford) and pitched two scoreless innings allowing just two hits to earn the win. Hilbert's Emili Ripley went the distance for Hilbert allowing nine hits and striking out six in the loss.
The Badgers received contributions from all over their batting order in the win. Morgan Rogerson (Hardwick, Vt./Hazen) went 2-for-4 with two RBI, a run scored, and double, Madeline Pritchard (North Clarendon, Vt./Mill River) went 2-for-3 with a double, an RBI, and a run scored, and Amber McCullock (Morrisville, Vt./Peoples Academy) went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and a triple. In addition Tanya Randall (Fryeburg, Maine/Fryeburg Academy) went 1-for-3 with two RBI and two runs scored and Emily Himberg (Williston, Vt./Champlain Valley) went 1-for-3 with two RBI and two runs.
Much of the damage in the fifth inning came with two outs for Johnson. Pritchard led off the inning with a single and Maria Gleason (Enosburg Falls, Vt./Enosburg) added a one-out single later in the frame. After a McCullock sacrifice bunt put runners on second and third with two outs the JSC bats erupted. Randall came through with the big two-run single to make the score 7-5 Hilbert and Rogerson then doubled home Randall cutting the margin to one at 7-6.
Himberg and Emily Pustari (North Haven, Conn./North Haven) each walked to load the bases before Rogerson scored on a passed ball to tie the score. McDonnell reached on an error that plated both Himberg and Pustari making it 9-7 Johnson and Pritchard would wrap up the scoring in the inning with a double scoring McDonnell.
McCullock would triple in the bottom of the sixth inning and score on a Rogerson single to provide the final insurance run.
Saturday, March 10 - Keystone 11, Johnson State 2
In the second game of the day Johnson saw Keystone College score nine of their 11 runs in the first two innings as the Giants rolled to the easy win 11-2 in five innings.
JSC's Meagan Russ (Burlington, Vt./Burlington) suffered the losing pitching decision by allowing nine earned runs and walking six and striking out two while Keystone's Sara Schraden notched the win by scattering six hits and striking out four in the five inning game.
Morgan Rogerson (Hardwick, Vt./Hazen) went 2-for-2 for JSC with a double, an RBI, and a run while Amber McCullock (Morrisville, Vt./Peoples Academy) went 2-for-3 with a run and a stolen base.
Sunday, March 11 - Hilbert 13, Johnson State 1
Hilbert picked a bit of revenge by scoring two first-inning runs and then scoring five in both the second and third innings to roll to a 13-1, five-inning win.
Meagan Russ (Burlington, Vt./Burlington) took the loss for Johnson despite striking out a pair as Hilbert connected on 20 hits and 11 earned runs. Devan Jonathan recorded the win for Hilbert allowing seven hits over five innings, walking two and striking out one.
Amber McCullock (Morrisville, Vt./Peoples Academy) went 2-for-3 with a double, a run scored, and two stolen bases and Erica Pustari (North Haven, Conn./North Haven) drove in McCullock with a third inning single.
Sunday, March 11 - Keystone 4, Johnson State 2
The Badgers wrapped up their trip with a 4-2 loss to Keystone. Johnson fell behind 4-0 after four innings, scored a pair of runs in the fifth to put themselves within striking distance but couldn't get any closer and finish the trip with a 1-5 record.
Johnson's Kristy McDonnell (Quechee, Vt./Hartford) had a solid outing pitching six innings, allowing three earned runs, striking out three, and walking five in the loss. Keystone's Karissa Worobey earned the complete-game win with allowing two earned runs on six hits and striking out six.
Amber McCullock (Morrisville, Vt./Peoples Academy) remained hot for JSC going 2-for-2 with an RBI while both Amanda McLean (Woodhaven, N.Y./HS for Environmental Sciences) and Russ went 1-for-3 with a run scored.
McLean led off the top of the seventh inning with a single to bring up the potential tying run for Johnson but Worobey would dig in striking out the next two batters and ending the game with a fielder's choice.