(Posted April 29, 2006)

Juniata 8, Albright 0
Albright 5, Juniata 1

HUNTINGDON, Pa. ? The Juniata College baseball team and visiting Albright College traded strong pitching performances as the two teams split a Commonwealth Conference doubleheader Saturday in Huntingdon. The Eagles had a pair of pitchers combine for a shutout as they claimed an 8-0 win in game one, while Albright starter Dan Johnson cooled off the Juniata bats to help the Lions earn a 5-1 win in the second game. Juniata?s victory in game one clinched the number-one seed in the upcoming conference tournament as the Eagles are now 16-4-1 in the conference and 27-10-1 overall. Albright finishes the conference season with a 9-12 mark in the Commonwealth and a 16-21 record for the season.

Riding the emotion of senior day, Juniata got off to a fast start in game one as David Saintz (Titusville/Titusville) delivered a two-run home run, and Zach Sternberg (McCaskey/Lancaster) added an RBI single to quickly make it 3-0 Juniata.

That was enough offense for Juniata?s pitchers in the contest as Jason Enoch (Hempfield/Landisville) and Drew Michanowicz (Bishop Guiloyle/Altoona) combined to hold Albright to five hits and no runs for the game. Enoch allowed three hits over five innings while striking out three to improve to 7-0 on the season, while Michanowicz tossed the final two frames for Juniata.

Juniata added to its lead with one run in the second on an RBI single from Troy Beaver (Bellwood-Antis/Bellwood). Steven Wilk?s (Blairsville/Hollidaysburg) two-RBI double in the third then put Juniata comfortably on top 6-0. The Eagles capped the scoring in the sixth when Will Russell (Tyrone/Tyrone) knocked a single to centerfield scoring two more runs.

David Omlor was charged with the loss for Albright as he went 2 1-3 innings, allowing six runs, five earned, on nine hits.

Beaver, Saintz, Sternberg and Walt Goedkoop (Manheim Township/Lancaster) all had two hits for Juniata in the game. Beaver added a pair of runs while Saintz drove in two. Joe Perry led Albright with a pair of hits.

After knocking out 12 hits in the first game of the twin-bill, the Eagles were unable to solve Johnson in the second game. The Albright hurler scattered five hits over six innings, allowing just one run. Jason Dunkelberger pitched the seventh to close out the game.

Juniata?s Cody Zong (Lewistown/McVeytown) matched Johnson for the first five innings, as neither team put a run on the board until the sixth. That?s when Albright loaded the bases with two out and Jeff Kulp delivered a two-RBI single past Zong?s glove and into centerfield to give the visitors the 2-0 lead. Zong was charged with the loss for Juniata has he allowed two runs over six innings while striking out four.

Juniata answered quickly as Dan Kauffman (Penn Manor/Conestoga) launched a solo home run to make the score 2-1. The threat continued after Goedkoop was hit by a pitch and then was running on a single from Jesse Leonard (Shade/Johnstown), but Albright center fielder Chad Mackey threw out Goedkoop on a close play at the plate to preserve the lead.

The Lions then added on to the advantage with three runs off Juniata reliever Eric Bridenbaugh (Central/Martinsburg) in the seventh. A successful squeeze bunt from Dexter Jablonski, a passed ball and an RBI single from Kyle Wenrich accounted for the runs.

Darren Hake (Red Lion/Red Lion) had two of Juniata?s five hits, while seven Albright players each had one bas hit.

Juniata will now close out its regular season with a home game against Mount Aloysius on Monday.

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