(Posted March 21, 2010)

HUNTINGDON, Pa. -- Kyle Saxman's (York, Pa./York Suburban) single in the eighth inning drove in the game winning run as the Juniata College baseball team salvaged the third game, 11-10, of the Landmark Conference series with Moravian College, at Langdon-Goodale Field, Sunday afternoon.

Saxman went 3-4 on the afternoon, but it was his two out, opposite field hit, that scored pinch runner Matt Fritz (Schnecksville, Pa./Parkland) in the bottom of the eighth inning that proved to be the game-winner.

Matt Regan (Downingtown, Pa./Devon Prep) came into the game with two outs in the top of the eighth, giving up the game tying run, but shut the door in the ninth, putting the Greyhounds down in order, earning the win.

Juniata (2-12, 1-2 Landmark) opened the scoring in the bottom of the first with a single run, set up by senior classmates. With one out, Andrew Kriss (Forest Hill, Md./John Carroll) singled into left center field. Two batters later, and after Kriss stole second, Greg Hoffman (Phoenix, Md./Dulaney) plated Kriss with a two out single through the right side.

The game remained 1-0 until the fourth inning. Eagle starter John Love (Loysburg, Pa./Northern Bedford) cruised one time through the lineup but hit a speed bump in the fourth.

Moravian (4-5, 2-1 Landmark) had the bases loaded and zero outs, but could only muster two runs out of Love. Than the Eagles responded with three runs of their own.

Juniata scored their first run on a bases loaded hit through the left side by Saxman, before Kriss' base hit to center allowed Tom Eck (Columbia, Pa./Lancaster Catholic) and Russ Gray (Johnstown, Pa./Richland) to cross home plate.

The Eagles extended their lead to 9-3 with a five run sixth inning. The scoring started again with the Saxman-Kriss combination.

On second base with no outs, Saxman hustled home on another Kriss single. Then Hoffman broke it open with a two run single, plating Chase Dykstra (Somerset, Pa./Somerset Area) and Kriss.

But the Greyhounds would not go away as they came back and scored four runs of their own in the top half of the seventh.

Johnny Martinez (Mt. Union, Pa./Mt. Union) silenced Moravian briefly as he sent a long fly ball into the bushes in right center for the team's first homerun of the season, extending the lead to 10-7.

Again, the Greyhounds responded with a three spot in the eighth off relievers Josh Green (Hagerstown, Md./Clear Springs) and Regan, setting up for Saxman's two out heroics.

Kriss finished 4 for 6 with three RBI's and two runs scored. Ian Thorne (Germantown, Md./Seneca Valley) had three hits for the Eagles, as did Saxman who added two RBI's and a run scored. Hoffman also ended the game with three runs batted in.

The loss snaps a 12 game losing streak for the Eagles after winning their first game of the season against John Carroll University.

Juniata will finish its eight game home stand with a double header against Penn State Altoona on Tuesday, March 23. The first game will begin at 1:00 pm.

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Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.