HUNTINGDON, Pa.- A five-run seventh inning for the Gettysburg Bullets proved the downfall of Juniata's baseball defeat in a 7-5 defeat on Wednesday evening.
The Juniata offense was led by Dakotah Snyder (2-for-4) and Corey Daniels (2-for-4, 1 RBI).
Derek Gehr provided five strong innings in his third start of the season, giving up just a run, five hits, a walk, and a strikeout. Zachary Malone was effective in maintaining the deficit in the eighth and ninth innings with just one hit and three strikeouts, his third-straight appearance with no runs allowed. The Eagles improved on their recent poor defensive form, conceding just one error over the nine innings.
Neither side got a runner past first base in the first frame, then Gettysburg opened the scoring in the top of the second. They got a runner aboard via a one-out walk, and a wild pitch advanced him to second. A two-out single up the middle gave the Bullets their first run.
Both sides went down in order in the third inning, then Gehr stranded a pair of runners with two outs via a foul popout. After being unable to secure a baserunner in the first three innings, Juniata found three hits and two runs. Snyder got aboard on a single and promptly stole second base to get a runner into scoring position. Daniels then did his job with a single up the middle.
An Evan Mock bunt single put two runners aboard, then Juniata initiated a double steal on the next play. Mock got caught in a rundown that ended with him out attempting to return to first, but Daniels timed his run home perfectly to just beat the throw at the plate. Juniata then struck out twice to end the inning ahead 2-1.
Each side managed a single in the fifth inning, the last of Gehr's service. An infield error by Juniata put a runner aboard to open the sixth, and he made his way to third on a fielder's choice and passed the ball. A run of three singles scored one run before another fielder's choice ended the frame.
Juniata again struck back with three runs in the sixth inning, as Snyder and Daniels singled to open the frame, followed by a Mock sacrifice bunt to get runners to second and third. Ethan Pfeffer was intentionally walked to load the bases, but soon all runners advanced on a wild pitch. A groundball to the shortstop saw both runners to score for a 5-2 Juniata lead.
Unfortunately, the Bullets found five runs in the seventh on a sequence that saw five straight singles, a popout, then a double. Jace Irvin got aboard to open the bottom of the seventh with a walk, and Charlie Bakken replaced him on the basepaths, who stole second after two outs. Another infield error put runners at the corners before a flyout ended the inning.
Each side managed one hit in the eighth, then both went down in order in the ninth for a 7-5 final score.
Gettysburg did end outhitting Juniata 15-7, while their bullpen gave up no runs, one hit, and one walk in three and two-thirds innings.
The Juniata baseball team plays its first Landmark Conference series of the season with a trip to Elizabethtown on Saturday and Sunday. The first pitch of game one on Saturday is scheduled for noon. The Eagles claimed two of three in last year's series in Huntingdon.
