(Posted March 7, 2005)

Juniata 8, Roger Williams 5

Chandler, Ariz. ? Walt Goedkoop (Manheim Township/Lancaster) was 2-for-6 with a home run and three RBI as the Juniata College baseball team upped its record to 3-0 on its spring break trip with a 8-5 victory over Roger Williams University in Chandler Ariz. Monday afternoon. Juniata is now 4-1 on the season with the victory.

Goedkoop delivered the key hit in the decisive fourth inning as the Eagles scored four runs in the fourth to take a 5-1 lead. After a pair of one-out walks, Goedkoop drove in Dan Kauffman (Penn Manor/Conestoga) and Jason Enoch (Hempfield/Landisville) with a double. Will Russell (Tyrone/Tyrone) followed with an RBI single to bring in the third run of the frame, and then Shawn McDonald (Bishop Canevin/Gibsonia) knocked home Russell to push the lead to 6-1.

That was enough of a cushion for Eagle starter Darius Reed (Juniata Valley/Alexandria) who pitched seven solid innings to claim his first win of the year. After Roger Williams scored one run in the first frame to match Juniata?s run in the top of the first, he kept Roger Williams off the scoreboard as the Eagles built up the 6-1 edge.

The big fourth inning came after the Eagles pushed one run across in both the first and third innings. A fielder?s choice groundout for Russell plated a Juniata run in the first, and then Goedkoop drilled a solo home run in the third to put the Eagles in front 2-1.

After the Eagles added another run in the top of the seventh on an RBI double from David Saintz (Titusville/Titusville), Roger Williams broke through against Reed in the bottom of the inning. The first three hitters of the inning reached on singles to load the bases, before Andy Dillon clubbed a grand slam to cut the lead to 7-5 in favor of the Juniata. Reed then righted the ship and retired the next three batters in order to preserve the lead.

Reed pitched seven innings allowing five runs, on seven hits while striking out three to earn the win. Andrew Michanowicz (Bishop Guilfoyle/Altoona) then came on to pitch two perfect innings of relief to close the game and earn the save.

Juniata added an insurance run in the top of the ninth as Troy Beaver (Bellwood-Antis/Bellwood) crossed the plate after an RBI single from Kauffman.

Along with Goedkoop, McDonald and Beaver each finished with a pair of hits for Juniata and Beaver also scored two runs.

Juniata will finish its three-game series with Commonwealth Conference opponent Moravian at 9 pm EST.

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