(Posted April 23, 2004)

Widener 6, Juniata 1

Chester, Pa. ? Juniata?s offensive struggles in conference games continued as the Eagle baseball team ran into a hot Widener pitcher and suffered a 6-1 loss in Commonwealth Conference action in Chester on Friday afternoon. The loss dropped Juniata to 14-13 overall and 7-6 in conference play, while Widener upped its record to 12-19 and 7-9 in the conference.

Juniata threatened to get to Widener starter Tony Meccariello early in the contest. The Eagles loaded the bases with one out in the top of the first, but Walt Goedkoop?s (Manheim Township/Lancaster) shot down the line was caught by the third baseman and turned into a double play.

After Widener pushed across a run in the bottom of the first, Juniata matched the run in the top of the second. Marc Frailey (Middletown/Middletown), who was seeing his first action in five games after suffering an injury, ripped a solo home run to tie the game at one.

That was as much damage as the Eagles would do against Maccariello as he went the distance, scattering eight hits and holding Juniata to the one run over nine innings.

The Pioneers took control of the game in the fourth inning as they scored three runs off Juniata starter Ryan O?Donnell (Lebanon/Lebanon). O?Donnell would fall to 2-1 on the season as he allowed five runs?four earned?in five and two-thirds innings of work.

Widener would add a run off Juniata reliever Eric Albright (Penn Cambria/Ashville) to earn the 6-1 margin of victory.

The Eagles would strand eight base runners in the game as the team?s offensive struggles continued in conference games. Juniata has scored a combined four runs in its last four conference games?all of which have been losses.

Frailey led the Juniata attack by going 3-for-4 with Juniata?s only run scored and RBI. Darren Hake (Red Lion/Red Lion) had a pair of hits for Juniata, while Goedkoop and Troy Beaver (Bellwood-Antis/Bellwood) each knocked out one hit in the game. Goedkoop?s hit was his team-high 11th double.

Juniata will return to action tomorrow as the Eagles play a doubleheader at Widener.

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