(Posted March 26, 2001)

SOFTBALL (6-3): Mar. 28 at Susquehanna (2); Mar. 29 at York (Pa.) (2); Mar. 31, Elizabethtown (2).

Juniata got back into action following a nine-day break on Saturday and split a doubleheader with visiting Alfred. The Eagles won the first contest, 5-4, in 10 innings, but dropped the second tilt to the Saxons, 12-10. In the opener, freshman second baseman Becky Herr (Hamburg/Hamburg) had a two-out, RBI single in the bottom of the 10th to drive in the winning run. Herr was 2 for 5 with an RBI, while sophomore left fielder Lauren Baker (Susquehannock/Spring Grove) went 3 for 4 with a stolen base. Freshman third baseman Cass Dutzer (Danville/Riverside) was 2 for 4 and scored once. Junior pitcher Christie Matthews (South Williamsport/South Williamsport) went the distance and picked up the victory. She improved to 3-1 on the year, while allowing just one earned run and seven hits against Alfred. In the second game, Juniata owned a 9-8 lead after five innings, but the Saxons tallied four runs in the sixth and held on for the win. Junior shortstop Brandy Preslovich (Bald Eagle Area/Moshannon) was 3 for 3 with a double, scored three times and knocked in a run. Sophomore center fielder Pam Michael (Baldwin/Pittsburgh) went 2 for 4 and touched home plate once, freshman pitcher Amy Gable (Kennard-Dale/Stewartstown), who took the loss on the mound, was 2 for 5 on offensive with a double, two RBI and a run scored. Herr had one hit (a triple) in three at-bats and knocked in two, while scoring a run herself.

MEN'S VOLLEYBALL (11-9, 6-6 EIVA Tait): Mar. 27, Penn State; Mar. 30 at Princeton; Mar. 31 at New York U.

Juniata went 2-1 during the past week, including 1-1 in Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (EIVA) Tait Division competition. On Wednesday evening, the Eagles, who are ranked second in the latest American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Division III Poll, snapped a seven-match losing streak to Mercyhurst with a 24-30, 30-26, 30-17, 30-28 win in Memorial Gymnasium. Freshman opposite Ryan Genova (Antietam/Reading) led Juniata with 15 kills, while freshman outside hitter Javier Garcia (San Ignacio/Guaynabo, Puerto Rico) and sophomore outside hitter Neil Lukas (Fairport/Fairport, NY) each tallied 12 kills. Garcia and freshman middle hitter Kenny Eiser (Central Bucks West/Doylestown) combined to pace the unit in blocks with five apiece. Sophomore setter Scott Kofmehl (North Allegheny/Pittsburgh) also turned in a solid performance with 49 assists and a squad-high eight digs. Sophomore libero Ryan Jackson had five digs for the Eagles. On Friday, Juniata traveled to EIVA Tait Division foe New Jersey Institute of Technology and posted a hard-fought, 30-18, 31-29, 28-30, 26-30, 15-11 victory over the Highlanders. Lukas had 17 kills, five blocks, two digs and an ace. Garcia posted 14 kills, five digs and three blocks, sophomore middle hitter Chris Jones (Lower Merion/Wayne) had 13 kills and a team-best seven rejections and Genova finished with 10 kills, nine digs, five blocks and two aces. Senior setter Kevin Moore (Webster/Webster, NY) dished out 60 assists to go with five blocks, four digs and three kills. Jackson continued his fine play with 12 digs. On Saturday, the blue and gold squad lost an EIVA Tait Division outing at Rutgers-Newark, 30-24, 30-24, 28-30, 30-28. Garcia tallied 12 kills and five digs, Lukas had 11 kills, three aces and five digs and Jones finished with 10 kills, two aces and two blocks. Moore passed out 24 assists and Jackson had a match-high 16 digs.

BASEBALL (9-6-1, 2-2 Commonwealth): Mar. 26 at Gettysburg; Mar. 27, York (Pa.) (2); Mar. 31 at Moravian (2).

Juniata opened the past week with a doubleheader sweep of visiting Penn State-Altoona, 2-0 and 2-1. In the first game of the day, the Eagles tallied two unearned runs in the bottom of the third and junior pitcher Tim Keeley (Caledonia-Mumford/Caledonia, NY) made them stand up. Keeley went the distance to get the win (2-0), while allowing just five hits, walking one and striking out three. Senior right fielder Lucas Kelleher (Bishop Guilfoyle/Altoona) was 2 for 3 with a run scored. In the second tilt, Juniata struck for two runs in the bottom of the seventh with one out to post a 2-1 triumph. The Eagles are now 9-0-1 all-time against the Cougars. Freshman Eric Hatten (DuBois Area/DuBois) tossed a complete-game victory (1-1). He gave up three hits, one earned run (in the second inning), walked one and struck out three. Freshman right fielder Bill Kulbacki (DuBois Area/DuBois) was 2 for 3 in the game with a run scored. Kulbacki started the bottom of the seventh for Juniata with a single and later scored the tying run. Senior left fielder Fred Heaton (Central/Roaring Spring) was 1 for 2, including a double, and scored the game-winning run on a contest-clinching single by senior center fielder Matt Eisenberg (Big Spring/Newville). On Saturday, the Eagles got swept in Commonwealth Conference action by visiting Lebanon Valley. The Dutchmen won the opener, 12-6. Junior first baseman Tim Dobson (Millville/Millville, NJ) was 3 for 4 with a double, triple and two runs scored. Junior catcher Matt Bowers (Westminster/Westminster, MD) was 2 for 3 with three RBI, a home run and a run scored. In the second contest, Lebanon Valley came from behind to post and 8-3 triumph. The Eagles were up, 3-0, after three innings of play. Dobson was 1 for 3 with three RBI and a sacrifice fly. Junior second baseman/shortstop Jamie Campbell (Muncy/Muncy) was 1 for 2 with a double and scored once.

MEN'S TRACK & FIELD: Mar. 31 at Susquehanna Invitational.

The Eagles traveled to Susquehanna for a season-opening, four-team outing with Moravian and Gettysburg on Saturday. The Eagle men took third out of the four team involved with 130 points, while Susquehanna won the men's showing with 191 markers. Senior John Creuzberger (Hollidaysburg/Hollidaysburg) took first in the shot put (44' 8 1/2") and the discus (126'), while sophomore Noah Fredette (Weedsport/Weedsport, NY) was first in the 1,500 meters (4:19.27) and second in the 800 meters (2:05.52). Sophomore Dusty Lehr (Bermudian Springs/New Oxford) was second in both the 110-meter hurdles (15.27) and the pole vault (12'). Junior Ashley Mort (Blue Mountain/Orwisburg) hit the tape third in the 200-meter dash (23.14). Senior Josh Kline (Bellefonte/Bellefonte) took second in the discus (117' 6") and was third in the javelin (172' 4"). Sophomore Scott Shacreaw (Blairsville/Black Lick) placed second in the javelin (185' 10").

WOMEN'S TRACK & FIELD: Mar. 31 at Susquehanna Invitational.

Juniata journeyed to Susquehanna on Saturday to begin the 2001 season with a four-team outing with the host squad, Moravian and Gettysburg. The Eagle placed fourth with 101 points, while Gettysburg took top honors with 189 points. Junior Jessica Sprankle (Tyrone/Tyrone) was second in the 100-meter hurdles (16.47) and fourth in the 400 meters (1:14.46). Sophomore Hillary Bright (Juniata Valley/Spruce Creek) placed third in the 100-meter dash (13.91) and third in the triple jump (32' 7 3/4"). Senior Kristy Wagner (Dover/Dover) was the runner-up in the triple jump (32' 11").

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