(Posted May 21, 2004)

Boyertown, PA ? Number five seed Arcadia scored four runs in the bottom of the ninth inning to hand the Juniata College baseball team an 8-7 loss in NCAA Regional play in Boyertown Friday afternoon. The loss eliminates Juniata from the NCAA Tournament and has the Eagles finish the season with a record of 24-17, a school record for wins in a season. Arcadia moves on in the double-elimination regional.

After Juniata added a pair of insurance runs in the top of the ninth to make the score 7-4, the Knights scored four runs on three hits and a pair of walks in the final inning. Juniata closer Eric Hatten (Dubois/Dubois) who had seven saves during the season walked a pair and allowed two hits. Tom Deccico then delivered the game-winning hit off Derek Tyson (Penns Valle/Penns Valley) to plate the final two runs.

?That?s obviously a tough way to lose, but I could not be more proud of this team,? Juniata Head Coach George Zanic stated. ?These guys have battled all season long and refused to give in. They came from behind again today, but you have to credit Arcadia, they fought hard and got big hits.?

After scoring one run in the bottom of the first on a sacrifice fly from Darren Hake (Red Lion/Red Lion), Arcadia moved in front with three runs in the second. John Maxon knocked a bases-loaded double off Juniata starter Jayme Fye (Philipsburg/Philipsburg) to bring home three runs and make the score 3-1.

Juniata battled back scoring single runs in the fifth and sixth innings. Kodi Hockenberry (Red Land/Lewisberry) walked then stole his way around the bases in the fifth before coming home on a ground out. In the sixth, with two outs, Marc Frailey (Middletown/Middletown) singled, then moved to third on an error. Adam Camberg (Altoona/Altoona) dumped a single into right field bringing tying the game at three.

Control problems helped Juniata take the lead as a pair of bases-loaded walks brought home two runs in the top of the seventh. Frailey and Zach Sternberg (McCaskey/Lancaster) each brought home runs with walks in the inning.

Arcadia answered back with a run in the bottom of the inning, and knocked Fye out of the game. John Connell notched an RBI single cutting the lead to 5-4. Andrew Michanowicz (Bishop Guilfoyle/Altoona) came on and got Juniata out of the jam.

The Eagles then looked like they had things in hand as Hockenberry dropped a single down the right field line in the top of the ninth to plate a pair of runs and extend the lead to 7-4. But Arcadia answered in the bottom of the ninth to earn the win.

?I just can?t say enough good things about our seniors,? Zanic stated. ?Those guys were the unquestioned leaders of this team, and they all gave it everything they had today. I?m sad that things had to end this way, but I?ve enjoyed all four years with that group.?

One of the seniors, Frailey led the team with two hits while adding a run and an RBI. David Saintz (Titusville/Titusville) was 2-for-5 with a pair of runs scored. Hockenberry, also a senior, paced the team with two RBI.

Connell was 4-for-5 in the game with two RBI. Maxon finished with a pair of hits and three runs driven in.

Hatten was charged with the loss for Juniata, while Matt Evanitsky earned the win with one inning of relief.

Juniata loses six seniors from this year?s squad that won the program?s first conference championship since 1991.

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