(Posted April 7, 2011)

JOHNSTOWN, Pa. -- Juniata College had early leads in both games of its doubleheader against Mount Aloysius College, but the Mounties posted crooked numbers in the latter innings in a 15-3 and 9-6 sweep of Juniata baseball, Thursday afternoon at Point Stadium in Johnstown, Pa.

Juniata (10-14) enjoyed a 3-1 lead after putting up a three-run fourth innings on one hit, two walks, an error, and a wild pitch. Mount Aloysius jumped in front 6-3 in the bottom of the fifth, aided by pitcher Mark Saxman's two-run home run.

The Eagles' three runs in the top of the sixth knotted the game. Dan Gray (Johnstown, Pa./Richland) reached on a walk to open the frame, and advanced to third on Andrew Hirsch's (Annandale, Va./Falls Church) double. Joe Sforza's (Pittstown, N.J./Immaculata) ground out to second allowed both Gray and Hirsch to score.

Juniata's third run of the sixth came on a Matt Fritz (Schnecksville, Pa./Parkland) RBI triple, scoring Brad Medellin (Lewisberry, Pa./Red Land).

Mount Aloysius (8-8) regained the lead with a three-run uprising in the sixth, including a two-run single by Saxman.

Saxman also started on the mound for Mount Aloysius, allowing three hits over five complete innings in the win. Zach Sauble (Williamsport, Md./Williamsport) got the start on the hill for Juniata, going four-and-two-thirds innings while allowing four earned runs on eight hits with one strikeout.

Josh Green (Hagerstown, Md./Clear Springs) came on for Sauble in the fifth, and scattered four hits and allowed three earned runs on his way to getting charged with the loss.

Dan Gray and Fritz each had a pair of hits for Juniata in the loss.

In game one, Juniata's 2-1 lead off single runs in the first and third innings didn't hold up as the Mounties plated five runs in the third and three in the fourth, with four more crossing in the sixth inning.

Russ Gray (Johnstown, Pa./Richland) had an RBI single in the first and an RBI double in the third for the Eagles. Juniata's third run came in the fourth, when Sforza drew a lead-off walk, and eventually scored on a fielder's choice grounder to the pitcher.

Will Hoffman (Phoenix, Md./Dulaney) and Marty Hauck (Bethesda, Md./Walt Whitman) each went three innings on the mound, with starter Hoffman allowing nine runs, five earned, on five hits with no strikeouts to get charged with the loss.

Mount Aloysius starter Sean Steffy took the win, scattering three hits over five innings.

Russ Gray went 3-for-3 in game two with two runs batted in, while John Martinez (Mount Union, Pa./Mount Union) and Kevin Campbell (Germantown, Md./Poolesville) each had one hit.

Juniata has the bye this weekend in Landmark Conference play, but will return to the diamond on Monday, April 11, when it travels to Altoona, Pa., to face Penn State Altoona.

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