HUNTINGDON, Pa.- The Eagles were unable to complete a series sweep of Elizabethtown on Sunday afternoon, falling 18-8 in the final game of the weekend homestand.
The bats were out in force for E-Town from the start, with the Blue Jays jumping out to a 3-1 lead in the top of the first inning. They went on to tally 18 total hits in the game, while the Eagles had 11 on the day. The offense from the Eagles was also consistent, but working from behind, they were never able to surmount the Blue Jays' advantage, which only stretched further and further as the game went on. Starter Zachary Malone (Bainbridge, Pa. / Elizabethtown Area) took the loss for Juniata, giving up eight runs on seven hits in 4.1 innings of work, including giving up a three-run homer in the top of the first and a grand slam in the top of the fifth.
Jake Swank (Portage, Pa. / Portage) would prove to be a catalyst for the Juniata offense, putting in a standout performance at the plate. He was a perfect five for five at the plate and came up only a home run short of hitting for the cycle. After singling in the first inning, he would rip an RBI double to deep left in the bottom of the third inning, put a two-RBI triple over the head of the right fielder in the fifth, and lead off the bottom of the seventh with his second double of the day. He then tacked on a third double in the bottom of the eighth inning while earning his fourth RBI. Swank also scored a run, meaning he accounted for five of Juniata's eight total runs in the game.
Juniata will hit the road tomorrow for a game against Pitt.-Greensburg, before returning home on Wednesday the 13th for a game against Lancaster Bible.