WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – The Juniata baseball team piled up 16 runs off 14 hits in a 16-5 win over SUNY Cobleskill Tuesday afternoon to kick off the RussMatt Invitational. The Eagles kept their momentum up in game two, defeating the Fighting Tigers, 10-4, to sweep the doubleheader.
The first inning saw the Eagles put three runs on the board to gain the early edge. Dillon Hippensteel (Dillsburg, Pa. / York Catholic) walked, advancing to second on an error by the pitcher. Chris Schreder (Lititz, Pa. / Lancaster Catholic) also walked, the two runners each advancing a base off Isaac Maclay's (Belleville, Pa. / Mifflin County High School) fielder's choice. Austin Suders (Marion, Pa. / Chambersburg Area) stepped up to the plate and crushed a double, sending all three of the runners home.
JC earned a pair of runs in the bottom of the second to go up 5-0. Devyn Carper (Altoona, Pa. / Altoona Area) doubled to start the inning and advanced to third off Hippensteel's single. Carper scored on a wild pitch and Hippensteel was able to cross the plate off Schreder's single.
The Fighting Tigers gained a run back in the third, but the Eagles remained aggressive offensively to score another two. Josh Keszczyk's (Boyertown, Pa. / Boyertown Area) walk was followed by Larry Corle's (Martinsburg, Pa. / Central High School) single, the two advancing on a wild pitch. Carper doubled to send Keszczyk and Corle home.
SUNY Cobleskill put forth another three runs in the fourth, but JC remained alive at the plate to put up another seven runs with Keszczyk's double sending in two, a Corle RBI coming off a single, and Hippensteel's single giving the Eagles another two runs. Carper scored on an error by the shortstop and Hippensteel reached the plate on Schreder's ground ball to the second baseman.
JC held a 16-4 lead after the fifth, scoring another two runs off singles from Keszczyk and Corle and a big triple from Sam Craig (Mullicahill, N.J. / Kingsway Regional). The Fighting Tigers scored again in the sixth, but the Eagles were able to hold their opponents, capturing the victory.
Larry Corle went 3-4 with two RBI and three runs scored while Carper went 3-2 with two doubles and two RBI. Hippensteel went 2-4, scoring three and sending in two RBI. Keszczyk went 2-3, logging a double and two RBI.
The Eagles were first to score in game two, Carper putting himself in scoring position after getting hit by a pitch and stealing both second and third. Schreder followed suit, walking and stealing second. Maclay lined out to third base, allowing Carper to reach on the error, and Adam Kipp (Mt. Wolf, Pa. / Northeastern) doubled, sending Schreder home.
SUNY Cobleskill reacted with a run of their own in the bottom of the first, but JC did not back down, earning another three runs in the second off singles from Zach Tobash (Macungie, Pa. / Allentown Central Catholic) and Hippensteel alongside a walk, wild pitch, and a pass ball. The Fighting Tigers battled back in the bottom half of the inning scoring two off three hits. JC remained in the lead, 5-3, to close the inning.
The Fighting Tigers scored again in the third, but the Eagles countered the run with one of their own in the fourth and another two in the fifth. Singles from Ryan McClain (Hughesville, Pa. / Hughesville) and Hippensteel contributed to the run in the top of the fourth while doubles from Maclay and Kipp allowed for the pair of runs in the fifth.
JC held SUNY Cobleskill for the remainder of the game and sealed their victory with two additional runs in the top of the seventh after doubles from Maclay and Kipp.
Hippensteel went 2-3, Maclay went 2-4 with a double, and Kipp went 2-4 for two doubles.
The Eagles return to action tomorrow to play Centre at 10:00am.
