AUBURNDALE, Fla.- The Juniata men's baseball team suffered their first loss down in Florida, 8-5, to Loras Thursday morning.
The Duhawks got on the board in the bottom of the second using two RBI-singles and a two-run double to go up 4-0 early. A single to center in the bottom of the third knocked in another as they led 5-0 early on.
In the top of the fifth, Ryan McClain (Hughesville, Pa. / Hughesville) lined a two-out single to right and stole second. Larry Corle (Martinsburg, Pa. / Central High school) drew a walk, and Jake Swank (Portage, Pa. / Portage) smacked a triple to left to bring the Eagles back within three.
Loras belted in two more runs in the bottom of the sixth as the deficit went back to five.
In the top of the seventh Corle scored on Ben Raab's (Langhorne, Pa. / Neshaminy) ground out to short to make it 8-3. In the top of the ninth, Isaac Maclay (Belleville, Pa. / Mifflin County High School) smashed his fourth homer of the season, a two-run shot to center, but JC couldn't complete the comeback as they lost 8-5.
Chase Alessandroni (Royersford, Pa. / Springford) put in a solid pitching outing in relief, tossing the final three innings and allowing one walk combined with a strikeout.
The Eagles will take Nebraska Wesleyan tomorrow at 9:30 and Vassar at 4:45.
