AUBURNDALE, Fla.- The Juniata baseball team began its Florida trip with a doubleheader against Gwynedd Mercy on Sunday afternoon. The Griffins took the first game by the score of 13-1 and the second 8-0.
After falling behind 2-0 in the first inning in Game One, the Eagles would get a run back in the second. Devin McLaughlin (Monmouth Beach, NJ/Shore Regional) led off with a walk. Cameron Livingston (Blairsville, Pa./Blairsville) moved him to second on a sacrifice bunt and McLaughlin then advanced to third base on a balk. Kevin Starner (Manheim, Pa./Manheim Central) brought him home with a single down the right field line. With two outs, JC looked to add more as Hunter Price (Huntingdon, Pa./Huntingdon Area) reached on an error by the Griffin second baseman to move Starner to third and then Price advanced to second on a passed ball. The inning ended, however, as Shane Buss (Warrenton, Va./Highland) struck out.
Gwynedd Mercy added a pair of runs in the third and fourth innings and broke the game open with a six-run fifth. Juniata's only other scoring threat happened in the fourth when Starner was thrown out at home trying to advance on an error. Runners were at second and third for Buss with two outs but he grounded out the short to end the inning.
Starner collected three hits for the Eagles with one run batted in. The only other hit belonged to Issac Kline (Everett, Pa./Bedford).
In Game 2, starting pitcher Adam Kipp (Mt. Wolf, Pa./Northeastern) gave up a two-RBI double in the bottom of the first but settled down and threw three scoreless innings. Kipp got an out in the fifth but gave up three runs (two earned) as he was replaced by Gavin Grimaldi (Clymer, Pa./Penns Manor). Kipp went 4 1/3 innings and gave up six earned runs on five hits with five walks and four strikeouts. Livingston was 1-for-4 at the plate with a double.
Juniata returns to the field tomorrow afternoon with a doubleheader against Cazenovia. Game 1 is scheduled for 1:30 with the second game following at 3:30 p.m.
