By: Laura Chapman
Assistant Sports Information Director
chapmal@juniata.edu • juniatasports.net
Photo: Jennifer Jones
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Juniata College baseball team dropped a tight doubleheader to Catholic University of America, 4-2 and 3-0, Saturday afternoon. Senior Joe Sforza (Pittstown, N.J. / Immaculata) threw six complete innings in the game one loss surrendering four earned runs on seven hits while striking out five and freshman Eric Grace (Hopewell, Pa. / Northern Bedford) went the distance in game two giving up three earned runs on three hits and striking out two over six innings.
Sforza reached base in the top of the first inning of game two for the Eagles. He advanced to second on a two out balk, but was stranded in scoring position. The Eagles left seven runners on base over seven innings of play with their biggest threat coming in the top of the fifth inning. Freshman Jamie Fell (Frazier, Pa. / Frazier) ripped a two-out single to left field followed by a single to right by junior left fielder Nick Stubbs (Hagerstown, Md. / South Hagerstown)
Down 1-0 after a first inning run by Catholic, the Eagles had the tying run in scoring position in the top of the sixth after senior second baseman Brad Medellin (Lewisberry, Pa. / Red Land) drew a leadoff walk and advanced to second on a sacrifice by Sforza. Catholic brought in its number one closer who, thanks to a two-run homerun in the bottom of the sixth for the insurance, was able to throw the final 1.1 innings for the save.
Juniata opened game one by scoring two runs in the top of the first. Junior center fielder Cody Krepps (Tyrone, Pa. / Bellwood-Antis) laced a one out double to score senior Medellin and senior shortstop Derek Heath (Huntingdon, Pa. / Huntingdon) for the early lead. Krepps finished 2-for-3 in the game with two runs batted in and both Medellin and Heath went 1-for-3 with one run scored. Freshman first baseman Brady Cotler (Chadds Ford, Pa. / Salesianum) registered a leadoff infield single to open the top of the second, but was unable to reach farther than second base.
The Cardinals tied the game in the bottom of the second and took the lead in the bottom of the fourth. The Eagles had the tying and go-ahead runs on base in the top of the fifth, but a line drive double play by Catholic ended the threat. The Cardinals scored one more insurance run in the bottom of the sixth and the Eagles went down in order in the top of the seventh for a 4-2 final.
The two teams will play the final game of the series tomorrow, April 6, at noon. The Eagles will return home for a doubleheader with Mount Aloysius College Wednesday, April 9, at 1 p.m. on Langdon-Goodale Field.
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