SCRANTON, PA. – Juniata College baseball defeated the University of Scranton in game one, 9-8, of the teams' double-header Saturday afternoon, but couldn't complete the sweep and dropped the second contest 5-2, at Connell Park.
The Eagles charted six runs to open their first Landmark Conference inning of play this season, kick-started by a leadoff Ben Mersky (Hershey, Pa./Hershey) double down the left field line. Brad Medellin (Lewisberry, Pa./Red Land) followed it with a single to score Mersky. Dan Gray (Johnstown, Pa./Richland) singled, followed by a Joe Sforza (Pittstown, N.J./Immaculata) fielder's choice that moved up Medellin and Gray thanks to a third baseman error.
With the bases loaded, senior Russell Gray (Johnstown, Pa./Richland) blasted a grand slam to bring the Eagle's lead to 5-0. Later in the inning, Mersky got to the plate for the second time and singled to center to drive home sophomore Jace Rhoads (Summersville, Pa./Clarion-Limestone), who reached first earlier on a fielder's choice.
Juniata (6-6, 1-1 Landmark) managed to score a single run in the second inning and plated a pair of runs in the fifth. However, despite all the Juniata offense, the Royals weren't going to go away easily and Scranton (8-5, 1-1 Landmark) managed to plate four runs in the bottom of the second, one in the fifth, and added three more in the sixth to bring the game to within just one run.
However, senior left fielder Matt Fritz (Schnecksville, Pa./Parkland) ended the Royals' sixth inning scoring spree with a diving catch on the left field line to bring the inning to a close and forcing Scranton to strand two runners in scoring position.
Freshman Chris Fulton (West Chester, Pa./Unionville High School) earned the win on the mound for Juniata. Fulton faced 25 batters in five innings of work and gave up eight hits, five earned runs and struck out two batters. Mario DeYulius (Ebensburg, Pa./Central Cambria) pitched 0.2 innings, and Medellin was called in to close the remaining 1.1 innings of play.
In game two, Scranton jumped out to an early 3-0 lead accumulated over the first two innings. Juniata responded in the third with a pair of runs, started with a Chase Dykstra left center single. Mersky kept his great day going with a double that allowed Dykstra to cross the plate. A Sforza single three batters later sent Mersky home to make the score 3-2.
However, Scranton managed two runs in the sixth, and the Eagles were unable to respond in the top of the seventh and fell 5-2 to the Royals.
Senior Will Hoffman was charged with the loss after 5.2 innings on the mound. Hoffman faced 26 batters and allowed eight hits, five runs, two walks, and struck out two hitters. Senior Nate Burkey (Alexandria, Pa./Juniata Valley) entered the game after Scranton's final two runs of the game and gave up one hit and forced a ground out in 0.1 innings.
Mersky went 5-of-8 on the day with two doubles and three RBI, while Sforza roped a double in game two as he stroked two hits over the two games. D. Gray also logged two hits, while stretching his hit per game streak to 11 contests.
Juniata will face Scranton again in Landmark play on Sunday in a nine-inning game at Connell Park. First pitch is scheduled for 12:00 p.m.
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