Juniata College made it’s first appearance in the conference postseason since 2001 a successful one Wednesday pounding out 13 hits while limiting visiting Moravian to five hits in a solid 10-2 win.
The second-seeded Eagles will play top seed Messiah in Reading this afternoon. Moravian will play Elizabethtown this morning in an elimination game. Messiah edged Elizabethtown 1-0 on Wednesday.
Juniata, which improves to 22-14 with the win, took control of the game with a four-run fourth inning that put the Eagles on top 7-1. David Saintz (Titusville) drove home Troy Beaver and Matt Garner, both from Bellwood-Antis, with a one-out single to start the rally. Will Russell, of Tyrone, followed with a two-run home run to left.
Juniata had opened with a 2-0 lead, before Moravian got on the scoreboard with a single tally in the second inning to cut the lead in half to 2-1. Jamie Fye, of Philipsburg-Osceola, retired the next hitter following Moravian’s score, stranding a pair of runners on base.
That big lead was to be plenty for Fye who allowed one run while scattering four hits over seven innings to pick up the win. Fye fanned five and walked three.
A sacrifice fly by Beaver scored Zach Sternberg (Lancaster McCaskey) with the eighth run in the fifth inning.
Fye was able to pitch out of two-out jams in both the sixth and seventh innings. In the sixth, with two on, Fye struck out the final batter of the frame. An inning later, Fye walked a pair with two outs, then got a fly ball for the third out.
Juniata capped their scoring in the bottom of the seventh. Sternberg recorded his third hit of the game, a solo home run to left field. With two outs, Beaver doubled and came home on a triple by Saintz. The three-bagger was Saintz seventh of th season setting a new Eagles’ record.
Strenberg led the attack with a 3-for-5 performance, including two RBI and a apir of runs scored. Saintz also had three hits, driving in three runs and scoring one. Beaver finished 2-for-3 with one RBI and two runs scored. Russell was 1-for -5 with his two-run dinger and Matt Garner was 1-for-4, with a run scored.
Sophomore first baseman Walt Goedkoop (Manheim Township) paced Juniata College in nearly every offensive category during the season. He posted a .339 batting average with 39 hits, 14 doubles, three home runs, 27 runs scored and 27 RBI. Outfielder David Saintz was nearly as strong as he closed the year with a .336 average, 38 hits, 23 runs and 19 RBI, in adition to his seven triples.
Tyrone’s Will Russell matched Saintz with 38 hits, just one off the team lead, closing the year with a .304 batting average and a pair of home runs while playing second base.
Beaver and Garner, flanked Saintz in the ouitfield for Juniata. Beaver scored 17 times while adding 20 hits and stealing seven bases. Garner added 15 RBI and had 18 hits.
Adam Camberg (Altoona), who has been the primary designated hitter for Juniata finished with 28 hits, 15 runs and was tied for third on the team with 15 RBI. Darren Hake (Red Lion) played a solid shortstop and batted .320 and Marc Fraily (Middletown) played third throughout the season, contributing two home runs along with 24 hits and 11 RBI.
On the mound, Fye paced the team with five wins during the regular season and 32 strikeouts. Senior Ryan O’Donnell (Lebanon) had three wins, 32 strikeouts and an ERA of 4.25. Lefty Cody Zong (Lewistown) led the starters with an ERA of 4.14. He won his last two starts and has fanned 31 batters on the year. Andrew Michanowitz (Bishop Guilfoyle) is 2-2 on the year with an ERA of 5.03 and 31 strikeouts.
In the bullpen, Eric Hatten (Dubois) leads the team with a 2.77 ERA and five saves. Eric Bridenbaugh (Central) has a 3.32 ERA and 13 strikeouts, while Derek Tyson (Penns Valley) leads the team in appearances with 13. Eric Albright (Penn Cambria) holds a 3.32 ERA which ranks third on the team.
Counting the playoff win over Moravian, Juniata College has now won eight of their last nine games, all in the conference, although during the season, the Messiah Falcons took two-of-three from Juniata.
The winner of the Commonwealth Conference double-elimination tournament will receive an automatic bid to the 2004 NCAA Division III Tournament.
