Special K
Gaisior throws 300th strikeout in rivalry win
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MIFFLINTOWN -- Milestones don't always wait for good weather.
Juniata softball phenom Liz Gaisior continued her torrid pitching Saturday morning as she collected career strikeout No. 300 in the Indians' one-hit shutout of Tri-Valley League and cross-county rival East Juniata.
Playing in the lingering rain for most of the contest, Juniata got a solid overall performance both offensively and defensively to notch the 10-0, five-inning win in front of its fans.
"They played really well today. We carried it over from yesterday. We played a good team with a good record but some games you don't win so they carried it over today and got the win," Juniata coach Erin Cressman said.
Gaisior had her A-game going on the mound and at the plate.
Offensively, the lefty leadoff hitter went 3-for-4 with two doubles and a home run.
In the circle, Gaisior allowed only one hit and struck out 11, putting the hurler at 307 for her career at Juniata.
The lone hit for the Tigers was by Brenna Watts, who also took the loss for East Juniata.
"We made contact tonight and put the ball in play. I thought the strike zone was very hard to work with today for both teams and that doesn't help," East Juniata coach Lauren Cheran said. "We also didn't have our starting nine today. They didn't see our full team. There were a lot of deciding factors.
"Knowing it's a county rivalry we knew it was going to be a good game today and the top dog was going to come out on top. Unfortunately, it wasn't us today."
Watts' base hit came in the opening frame, in which Gaisior struck out the other three batters. When Juniata came to bat, she wasted little time giving her team a spark as she blasted a ground-rule double.
With two out, Navi Jackson joined Gaisior on base with a walk and both moved up on a wild pitch.
Shalelyn Armstrong plated both teammates as she blasted a two-run single into left field.
Gaisior struck out the side in the second, the inning In which history made its way into the contest. Facing her first batter of the second, Gaisior recorded her 300th K.
In the bottom of the inning Juniata added to its lead.
Savannah Marshall reached on a walk. Mackenzie Lyter singled to put runners on first and second. Gaisior bounced into a fielder's choice, moving Marshall to third.
Marshall scored on a wild pitch. Gaisior scored on a wild pitch as well.
Regan Lowery walked and then scored on an RBI single by Lexi Frontz, upping the lead to 5-0.
Gaisior made her presence known again in the bottom of fourth as she blasted a shot that cleared the fence, cushioning the Juniata lead to 6-0.
Juniata put the game on ice in the bottom of the fifth plating four runs, ending the contest early.
Juniata 10, East Juniata 0 (5 inn.)
East Juniata 000 00 -- 0-1-2
Juniata 230 14 -- 10-10-0
WP: Liz Gaisior. LP: Brenna Watts. HR: Gaisior (J). 2B: Gaisior, Lexi Frontz, Shaelyn Armstrong (J). MH: Gaisior 4-4, Frontz 3-4, Armstrong 2-4. RBI: Gaisior, Frontz 2, Armstrong 2.