(Posted March 26, 2007)

SELINSGROVE, Pa. - The Juniata College baseball team was unable to pick up its first conference win of the season Monday afternoon against Susquehanna, but the Eagles also did not end up with a loss as the two teams played to a 4-4 tie in a game that was called due to darkness after 12 full innings. After the teams went to extra innings tied at three, Juniata (7-6-1, 0-2-1 Commonwealth) had a chance to earn the win when the Eagles scored one run in the top of the 10th. Ben Yeager (Owen J. Roberts/Pottstown) delivered an RBI double with two outs to give Juniata a 4-3 lead. But Susquehanna (5-5-1, 0-2-1 Commonwealth) extended the game again with a run in the bottom of the 10th as Chris Price doubled home Jason Gaccione who had singled with one out. Juniata reliever Jeff Hayes (Indian Valley/Lewistown) was able to strand the runner at second to extend the game to the 11th inning. The Eagles then put a pair of runners on base in the 11th only to have Crusader reliever Brian Ahearn record a strikeout to work out of the jam. Susquehanna then managed to load the bases with two outs, but Hayes got a groundout to end the inning. After Juniata went in order in the top of the 12th, the home team threatened one more time. The Crusaders put a pair of runners on base against Juniata reliever Tyler Clifford (Homer-Center/Homer City) and had runners at first and second with one out. But Clifford induced a pair of groundouts to end the inning, and the game with the score tied at four. Both teams\' pitching staffs worked out of trouble throughout the game as the teams combined for 20 hits and six errors in the game. Susquehanna got on the board first as Matt Ruane led off with a bunt single, stole second, and then came home after a pair of infield grounders in the bottom of the first inning. Juniata answered back with three runs in the top of the third. Four-straight hits and a walk to open the inning pushed across three runs. Dan Kauffman (Penn Manor/Conestoga) delivered a pair of runs with a single to right, and then Dane Ott (South Williamsport/South Williamsport) drove home another run with a single. The home team got one run back in the bottom of the third when Ruane reached on a single and then came around to score his second run on a pair of throwing errors. Enoch found himself in trouble again in the sixth when a pair of walks and a double loaded the bases with no outs. But the junior fanned the next hitter, then got a double play grounder to end the inning with no runs score. Ruane continued to cause problems for Juniata as he singled and then came home on an RBI single from Gaccione to tie the score at three. Juniata starter Jason Enoch (Hempfield/Lancaster) went eight innings, allowing three runs, two earned, on seven hits and struck out seven. Hayes allowed one run on three hits while striking out four in three innings of relief. John Lunardi allowed three runs on eight hits over seven innings for Susquehanna and recorded four strikeouts in the game. Rob Fox pitched two perfect innings of relief, and Ahearn allowed one run on one hit over three innings. Greg Hoffman (Dulaney/Phoenix, Md.) led Juniata with two hits in the game. Kauffman was 1-for-3 with two RBI in the contest. Ruane finished the game with four hits while scoring three runs. Ahearn, Gaccione and Price each added a pair of hits of Susquehanna. Juniata will be back in action on Thursday with a home doubleheader against Washington & Jefferson. ###

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