WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Juniata baseball team dropped two to the Catholic Cardinals in the series' opening doubleheader Saturday afternoon.
Jesse Beeler (Greencastle, Pa. / Greencastle-Antrim) started on the mound and tossed a complete game for the Eagles in game one. Beeler recorded four strikeouts and gave up zero walks. The Cardinals were held to just five hits and two earned runs.
The Cardinals capitalized on an error in the bottom of the first to go up 1-0 early on the Eagles.
Catholic's pitching staff gave Juniata very little to work with as they battled to pick-up three hits and draw a walk.
Joe Klusman (Wilmington, Del. / St. Elizabeth) led the offense and went 2-for-3 at the plate. Chris Sinisi (Altoona, Pa. / Altoona Area) followed with a 1-for-2 effort.
Isaac Kline (Everett, Pa. / Bedford) showed patience at the plate and picked up a walk for the Eagles.
Cardinals' pitcher Jon Mierzwa was lights-out on the mound in game two against Juniata and only Anthony Lombardo (Altoona, Pa. / Altoona Area) was able to get on base.
Lombardo's single in the top of the sixth came with two outs in the inning. The Eagles nearly sparked some momentum but the third basemen made a play on a lineout to end the inning.
Caleb Pepperday (Phillipsburg, Pa. / Phillipsburg-Osceola) started on the mound in game two and tossed 4.0 innings. Ichiro Narita (Brooklyn, N.Y. / Brooklyn Latin) threw the final two innings and gave up zero runs. Pepperday and Narita recorded one strikeout each.
Juniata closes out its season Sun. May 1 against the Cardinals in a single 9-inning game. First pitch is scheduled for 12:00 p.m.
