By: Laura Chapman
Assistant Sports Information Director
chapmal@juniata.edu • juniatasports.net
Photo: Jennifer Jones
HUNTINGDON, Pa. – A two-out seventh-inning rally fell just short of a four run comeback as the Juniata College baseball team fell to Drew University 7-6 in game two of a Landmark Conference doubleheaders. The Eagles allowed just two earned runs in game two, but dropped the opening contest 6-1 to fall to 5-22 on the year.
Game one opened with junior Derek Heath (Huntingdon, Pa. / Huntingdon) leading off the bottom of the first with a walk and reaching second after a sacrifice bunt by senior Brad Medellin (Liewsberry, Pa./Red Land). Senior Joe Sforza (Pittstown, Pa./Immaculata) helped his own cause as the pitcher, singling home Heath on a hit up the middle for the first run of the game. The Rangers got two runs in the top of the third to take the lead 2-1.
After a leadoff single and a walk by the Rangers, Sforza shut down the threat with runners in scoring position in the top of the third. Sforza threw five complete innings, taking the loss after giving up just two earned runs on seven hits while striking out three. Senior catcher Dan Gray (Johnstown, Pa./Richland) ripped a two-out double in the bottom of the third, but was stranded in scoring position. Drew came back with four runs in the top of the fifth to extend the lead to 6-1.
Freshman first baseman Brady Cotler (Chadds Ford, Pa. / Salesianum) started things off in the bottom of the fifth with a clean single up the middle, but was stranded at the first station. Senior David Smyers (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Central Catholic) took over in relief in the top of the sixth and blanked the Rangers thanks to two inning-ending double plays. The Eagles went down in order in the bottom of the seventh for the 6-1 Drew win. Sforza, Gray, Cotler, and junoir Cody Krepps (Tyrone, Pa. / Bellwood-Antis) all finished 1-for-3 in the game.
After freshman pitcher Eric Grace (Hopewell, Pa. / Northern Bedford) set down the Rangers in order to open game two, Medellin and Sforza his back-to-back doubles for the 1-0 lead. Sforza moved himself up 90 feet with a stolen base and scored on a sacrifice fly by Krepps to put the Eagles on top 2-0. Krepps and Sforza each had one RBI and one run scored in the game with Krepps going 2-for-3 and Sforza finishing 1-for-4. Drew came back with one in the top of the second, one in the top of the third, and two in the top of the fourth for the 4-2 lead.
In the bottom of the fourth, sophomore Anthony Lombardo (Altoona, Pa. / Altoona Area) singled home Krepps to pull within one. In the top of the next inning, the Rangers plated three runs for the 7-3 lead. Senior Mario DeYulis (Ebensburg, Pa. / Central Cambria) threw two complete innings in relief, giving up just four hits and not surrendering a run.
Juniata made things interesting with their final at bats. In the bottom of the seventh, Medellin laced a two run single scoring junior Nick Stubbs (Hagerstown, Md. / South Hagerstown) and sophomore Sheridan Doan (Timonium, Md. / Dulaney High School) to pull within two at 7-5 Drew. Medellin had the big bat for Juniata in game two, finishing 2-for-3 with two RBI, two runs scored, and one walk. With tow outs, Gray singled home Medellin to pull to 7-6 and brought Krepps to third base as the tying run. But a final line out to centerfield ended the come back hopes and dropped the Eagles to 5-22 overall this year.
Juniata will wrap up the series against Drew with a single nine-inning game tomorrow, April 13, at noon. A special ceremony to honor the 2014 seniors will begin approximately 15 minutes before first pitch.
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