(Posted March 8, 2006)

Juniata 17, Wheaton 16
Juniata 18, Beloit 10

PHOENIX, Ariz. ? The Juniata College baseball team used a pair of explosive offensive performances to claim a pair of victories as the Eagles outlasted Wheaton 17-16 and topped Beloit 18-10 Wednesday in Phoenix, Ariz. The victories raised Juniata?s record to 6-0 during its spring break trip, and improved the overall record to 6-3.

In game one against Wheaton, the Eagles jumped to a huge early lead, but then held off a late charge to claim the win.

The offense began in the first as Walt Goedkoop (Manheim Township/Lancaster) belted a two-run homer in the first and then added a three-run double in the second to put Juniata in front. Wheaton battled back to come within one run at 6-5, before a Dan Kauffman (Penn Manor/Conestoga) grand slam added to Juniata?s lead in the fifth, and then knocked out a three-run homer in the sixth as Juniata?s lead eventually grew to 17-5.

Wheaton then made a charge in the bottom of the eighth inning as the home team knocked out a pair of grand slams as part of a 10-run inning to cut the deficit to 17-15. Jeff Hayes (Indian Valley/Lewistown) got out of the eighth-inning jam and then after surrendering one run in the ninth worked his way out of a bases-loaded one-out jam to secure the win for Juniata.

Eric Bridenbaugh (Central Martinsburg) pitched the first four innings for the Eagles before leaving with an injury. Tyler Brown (Southern Huntingdon/Orbisonia) pitched into the eighth inning to capture the win.

Kauffman was 2-for-3 on the game with his two home runs and drove in seven runs. Goedkoop finished 2-for-4 with a home run and five RBI in the game. Dan DeRosa (Kingston/Kingston, N.Y.) also homered in the game for Juniata.

In game two an eight-run eighth inning proved to be the difference as the Eagles topped Beloit 18-10.

The Eagles started quickly, scoring five runs in the top of the first, with a two-run double from Shawn McDonald (Bishop Canevin/Gibsonia) serving as the big blow.

But Beloit countered with six runs in the bottom of the first as they knocked Juniata starter Brian Markovich (Northern Cambria/Northern Cambria) out of the game after facing four hitters. Darren Hake (Red Lion/Red Lion) then came on and pitched solidly for Juniata, allowing six runs, five earned, over 6 1-3 innings while striking out five.

Beloit expanded its lead with a pair of runs in the bottom of the third, before Juniata added single runs in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings and then Beloit scored one more in the bottom of the seventh, leaving the score tied at 10 through seven innings.

Juniata?s offense then broke through with eight runs in the eighth to take control. The Eagles pounded out five hits in the inning, including a two-RBI double from Goedkoop and a single and a double which accounted for three RBI for Will Russell (Tyrone/Tyrone).

Hayes pitched the final 2 2-3 innings to earn the win for Juniata. Troy Beaver (Bellwood-Antis/Bellwood) reached base all seven times he came to the plate in the game, as he was 4-for-4 with three walks and five runs scored. Kauffman had three hits in the game, including his third home run of the day while driving in four runs. Goedkoop and Russell each drove in three runs, while Russell and Jesse Leonard (Shade/Johnstown) both had three hits.

The Eagles continue play in Phoenix on Thursday with a single game against Concordia (Ill.).

###

Our readers respond...

Be the first to provide a response.

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