WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – Juniata College baseball gave up four runs to Loras College in the first inning and was unable to catch-up and fell 13-6 in the squad's third game at the RussMatt Invitational in Winter Haven, Fla. on Monday.
Juniata finally got on the board in the bottom of the fourth with two runs. It all got started from a sophomore Brad Medellin (Lewisberry, Pa./Red Land) single. Dan Gray (Johnstown, Pa./Richland) took a walk, and one out later Sophomore Joe Sforza (Pittstown, N.J./Immaculata) doubled to right center to score Medellin, and a senior Thomas Eck (Columbia, Pa./Lancaster Catholic) ground out allowed Gray to score on the next play.
After allowing a top of the fifth Loras' run, the Eagles responded in the bottom half of the inning with a single run. Jace Rhoads (Summerville, Pa./Clarion-Limestone) hopped aboard from a shortstop fielding error and made his way around and scored off a Ben Mersky (Hershey, Pa./Hershey) ground out.
In the bottom of the sixth, D. Gray doubled and a junior Cole Walters (Mount Union, Pa./Mount Union) single allowed Gray to score. Two batters later, senior Matt Fritz (Schnecksville, Pa./Parkland) reached on a fielder's choice that allowed Walters to cross the plate.
The Eagles last run came in the eighth inning scored by sophomore Mario DeYulius (Ebensburg, Pa./Central Cambria) who reached on a throwing error. DeYulius reached third on a wild pitch and a balk, followed by a Sforza single to bring DeYulius home for Juniata's sixth run of the game.
Sforza ended the contest with a double and single that resulted in a pair of RBIs. Medellin went 2-of-4 with a pair of singles and added a walk. D. Gray, Eck, Walters, and freshman Nicholas Stubbs (Hagerstown, Md./South Hagerstown) each earned singles in the contest.
Sforza started on the mound for the Eagles and gave up two hits, five runs, and seven walks while striking out four. Junior Josh Green (Hagerstown, Md./Clear Spring) earned an appearance in the fifth and sixth innings, where he struck out two and allowed four hits and three runs. Junior Andrew Groninger (McAlisterville, Pa./East Juniata) pitched one inning for Juniata and allowed just one hit. Junior Justin Miller (Bellwood, Pa./Bellwood-Antis) hurled the final two innings for Juniata and permitted three Loras runs.
Juniata continues play in Winter Haven, Fla. against Eastern Mennonite on Tuesday, March 6 at the RussMatt Invitational at 1:00 p.m.
-30-
