ELIZABETHTOWN, Pa. – The Eagles dropped two close games to Elizabethtown in a conference doubleheader. Juniata fell 5-3 in game one and 4-3 in game two.
The Blue Jays got on the board early in the game, scoring runs in the first and second innings. Juniata answered back in the third with two runs of their own. Gavin Grimaldi (Clymer, Pa./Penns Manor) was hit by a pitch to start the inning and advanced to third off Devyn Carper's (Altoona, Pa./Altoona Area) single to left field. Chris Schreder (Lititz, Pa./Lancaster Catholic) doubled down the left field line to bring both Carper and Grimaldi home.
The Eagles scored again in the fourth to take the lead off Devin McLaughlin's (Monmouth Beach, NJ/Shore Regional) single to left field, a sacrifice bunt from Shane Buss (Warrenton, Va./Highland), and Austin Suders' (Marion, Pa./Chambersburg Area) single. Elizabethtown came back in the fifth to score three runs off three hits, a walk, and a hit by pitch.
Game two was scoreless until the fifth inning when Juniata got ahead 2-0. Buss singled for a strong start to the inning. Suders reached first on a fielder's choice to the pitcher, and Buss advanced to second on a throwing error. Andrew Hay (Willow Street, Pa./Lampeter-Strasburg) came in to pinch run for Suders, and he and Buss both advanced on a wild pitch. Kevin Starner (Manheim, Pa./Manheim Central) singled to send in Buss, and Hunter Price (Huntingdon, Pa./Huntingdon Area) laid down a sacrifice bunt for another run.
The Eagles scored again in the seventh. Hay singled through the right side and was advanced to second on Grimaldi's sacrifice bunt. Price singled, allowing for Hay to cross home.
With two outs and bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh, Elizabethtown hit a grand slam to win the game.
The Eagles play again next weekend at Scranton for the team's last three games of the season.