WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – Juniata College baseball accumulated 13 runs off 13 hits but was outdone by St. John Fisher's 20 runs off that same number of hits Friday morning in the RussMatt Invitational.
Juniata (8-2) found itself down 20-7 heading into the bottom of the ninth, and the Eagles strung together six hits to tack up six runs to close the gap by just seven runs, but ultimately couldn't keep the streak alive and fell 20-13.
Freshman Nicholas Stubbs (Hagerstown, Md./South Hagerstown) launched a triple to score two of Juniata's three runs in the third, while both sophomore Joe Sforza (Pittstown, N.J./Immaculata) and freshman Hunter Phillips (Funkstown, Md./South Hagerstown) logged doubles in the contest. Phillips also charted a single as part of his 2-of-4 effort at the plate, both hits coming in the ninth inning.
Ben Mersky (Hershey, Pa./Hershey), Russel Gray (Johnstown, Pa./Richland), and Stubbs also charted multiple hit games with two apiece. Designated hitter Brett Shippey (Bedford, Pa./Bedford) drove in Huntingdon natives Lucas Corbin (Huntingdon, Pa./Huntingdon) and Derek Heath (Huntingdon, Pa./Huntingdon) in the ninth off a rip up the middle. Dan Gray (Johnstown, Pa./Richland) extended his hit-per-game streak to 10 games with a left field single, while freshman Cody Krepps (Tyrone, Pa./Bellwood-Antis) and sophomore Jace Roads (Summersville, Pa./Clartion-Limestone) each smacked singles against St. John Fisher (8-2).
Juniata put five different pitchers on the mound throughout the contest, and collectively the hurlers struck out seven batters while giving up six homeruns. Sforza allowed 10 hits and four homers in 3.1 innings pitched to get the loss.
Junior Josh Green (Hagerstown, Md./Clear Spring) came in as relief and pitched 3.2 innings only giving up three runs while fanning three Cardinal batters. Senior Nate Burkey (Alexandria, Pa./Juniata Valley), Justin Miller (Bellwood, Pa./Bellwood-Antis) and Andrew Groninger (McAlisterville, Pa./East Juniata) each logged 0.2 innings in the contest and collectively handed St. John Fisher five earned runs on five hits and seven walks.
Juniata caps its time in Winter Haven, Fla. with a Saturday, March 10, 1:00 p.m. game against Saint Vincent College.
-30-
