By: Laura Chapman
Assistant Sports Information Director
chapmal@juniata.edu • juniatasports.net
Photo: J.D. Cavrich Photography 

KINGS POINT, N.Y. – In the final Landmark Conference series of the season the Juniata College baseball team suffered a pair of losses at the hand for the Mariners from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA). The Eagles scored early, but not often enough in game one and fell 14-8 before a 5-1 pitching dual went the way of the Mariners in game two.

Juniata (9-29) started off on the right foot in game one getting back-to-back RBI singles from junior center fielder Cody Krepps (Tyrone, Pa. / Bellwood-Antis) and senior catcher Dan Gray (Johnstown, Pa. / Richland) to score seniors Joe Sforza (Pittstown, N.J. / Immaculata) and Brad Medellin (Lewisberry, Pa. / Red Land) and Krepps. Freshman Eric Grace (Hopewell, Pa. / Northern Bedford) then ripped a two-out RBI double to score Gray for the fourth run of the inning.

The Mariners (18-11) were not deterred and scored seven runs of their own in the bottom of the frame and five in the bottom of the second before the Eagles got one back in the top of the third on a Merchant Marine miscue. The Mariners notched two more in the bottom of the third for the 14-5 lead. Both teams went scoreless until sophomore Chris Sinisi (Altoona, Pa. / Altoona Area) singled home junior Nick Stubbs (Hagerstown, Md. / South Hagerstown) in the top of the sixth.

Stubbs then doubled home Gray and sophomore Anthony Lombardo (Altoona, Pa. / Altoona Area) in the top of the seventh, but the rally ended there and the Eagles fell 14-8 in game one. Grace took to the mound in game two for the Eagles throwing six complete innings, giving up only one earned run while striking out two.

Juniata stranded two runners on base in the top of the third, one in the fourth, and one in the fifth before scoring one run in the top of the sixth inning. Sforza ripped a one-out double in the inning and Krepps reached on an error for two runners on. Lombardo singled home Sforza for Juniata's run, but one run in the second, three in the third, and one in the fourth was enough scoring for the Mariners.

The Eagles will take on the Mariners in a single nine-inning game tomorrow, Sunday April 27, at noon for the final league match of the season. The Mariners are looking to secure a spot in the Landmark tournament with a victory over Juniata tomorrow.

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