(Posted April 30, 2005)

Juniata 7, Susquehanna 3
Juniata 2, Susquehanna 1

Huntingdon, Pa. - The Juniata College baseball team closed out its regular season with a pair of strong pitching performances and two come-from-behind victories as the Eagles topped Susquehanna University 7-3 in game one and 2-1 in the second contest in a conference doubleheader in Huntingdon Saturday afternoon. Juniata ends the regular season with a 24-15 record overall and a 15-6 mark in conference. Susquehanna fell to 8-26-1 with the losses and ends the conference season with a mark of 3-18.

Juniata has already clinched a spot in the conference postseason, which will begin Thursday at Owls Field in Reading. Juniata's first-game opponent has not yet been decided.

In game one of the twin-bill Juniata got a complete-game from Paul Evans (Huntingdon/Huntingdon) and rode a five-run fourth inning to the victory. After falling behind 3-2 when Susquehanna pushed across three runs in the top of the fourth, the Eagles scored five runs on four hits in the bottom of the frame. Walt Goedkoop (Manheim Township/Lancaster) delivered the big blow in the inning as he pounded a bases-loaded double of the leftfield wall to bring home the final three runs of the inning. David Saintz (Titusville/Titusville) and Troy Beaver (Bellwood-Antis/Bellwood) each added RBI singles in the frame.

Evans would hold that lead the rest of the way as the senior posted his first complete game of the year. He allowed three runs on nine hits while striking out six in claiming his first victory of the year.

Juniata gave Evans an early 2-0 cushion with a pair of runs in the third. Beaver knocked a single to right center that scored Darren Hake (Red Lion/Red Lion) and then Saintz came around to score as the ball was misplayed in the outfield.

Susquehanna countered with three runs in the top of the fourth. Adam Donlevie roped a two-RBI double to left to tie the score at two. Tim Larson followed with a surprise bunt down the third-base line that scored Donlevie and gave the Crusaders a 3-2 lead. Greg Dobson was charged with the loss for the visitors as he went 3 2-3 allowing seven runs on six hits. He struck out five and walked three.

Beaver finished 2-for-4 in the game while Matt Garner (Bellwood-Antis/Bellwood) also had a pair of hits.

Game two saw Juniata score a single run in both the sixth and seventh innings to earn the victory. After a bases-loaded walk tied the game in the bottom of the sixth, the Eagles loaded the bases with no one out in the bottom of the seventh. A pair of singles and an error loaded the bases and Beaver then knocked in the winning run with a single through the drawn-in infield to plate the winning run.

Susquehanna took a 1-0 lead in the fifth with an unearned run off Eagle starter Drew Michanowicz (Bishop Guilfoyle/Altoona). After putting at least one runner on in each of the first four innings Chris Mothershed opened the frame with a bunt single, then moved to second on a wild pitch. After a sacrifice bunt moved him to third, Reichard hit a ball back up the middle that caromed off Michanowicz and then saw the pitcher throw the ball away to allow the run to score. Michanowicz worked out of the jam, and then left the game after the fifth having allowed just one run on three hits while striking out three. Jason Enoch (Hempfield/Landisville) came on and pitched two scoreless innings of relief.

An infield error put the first runner on base for Juniata in the sixth, and then reliever Brian Ahearn walked the bases loaded. He retired the next two hitters, before walking Jesse Leonard (Shade/Johnstown) to tie the game at one. Ahearn was charged with the loss, his second of the year. Crusader starter Brian Diebold pitched five-plus solid innings allowing just one run on four hits.

Seven different players all had one hit for Juniata in the game.

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