HUNTINGDON, Pa. – The Juniata College baseball team pounded out 13 hits and crossed the plate eight times, but it wasn't enough as Gettysburg College defeated the Eagles in their open opener, 15-8, on Wednesday.
Freshman Evan Pappas (Potomac, Md./Thomas Sprigg Wooten) led the attack recording three hits in four at-bats. He also scored a run, as well as knocking one in.
Four Juniata batters ended the day with two hits apiece. Andrew Kriss (Forrest Hill, Md./John Carroll) reached home once and had an RBI in addition to his two hits.
Senior Ian Thorne (Germantown, Md./Seneca Valley) had the lone extra base hit for the Eagles with a double down the left field line. He scored twice on the day.
Greg Hoffman (Phoenix, Md./Dulaney) was another Eagle with two hits, plating two runners and scoring a run as well.
Also getting two base hits was freshman Cole Walters (Mt. Union, Pa./Mt. Union). He went 2-5 on the day, which raised his batting average to .333 on the season.
Juniata (1-8) took the lead in the bottom half of the first inning. It started with Thorne's double, which skipped past the third baseman inside the bag, as he legged it out, barely beating the throw into second. With two men on, Hoffman singled through the right side, moving the runners up a station.
Designated hitter Russ Gray (Johnstown, Pa./Richland) grounded into a fielder's choice, but Thorne came across for the 1-0 lead. But it would be the only lead of the day for the Eagles.
The Bullets came back in the top half of the second and put three on the board. They never looked back.
They added two more in the top half of the second, before Mike Backus sent a long drive into Muddy Run in left center, plating all four runners that were on base, ending the fifth inning five more runs on the board.
Gettysburg (6-4) had two more runners score in the top of the sixth, before the Eagles got back on the board. In all, the Bullets scored 13 unanswered runs going into the bottom of the sixth.
Matt Regan (Downingtown, Pa./Devon Prep) took the loss on the mound in his first appearance of the season. He gave up five runs on eight hits, and recorded one strikeout.
Kyle Conklin pitched 5.2 innings, giving up 10 hits and five earned runs, taking the win for the Bullets.
The loss was the eighth straight for the Eagles after opening the season with an 8-1 victory over John Carroll University on March 6.
The Eagles continue their six game home stand with a doubleheader tomorrow, Thursday, against Pitt-Greensburg. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m.
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