HUNTINGDON, Pa.- The Juniata baseball team was unable to complete a comeback after falling 5-0 behind to Elizabethtown through six innings, eventually losing 5-2 to open the weekend's series.
The Juniata offense struggled for most of the contest, breaking up a combined Etown no-hitter in the eighth inning when they scored both of their runs. Corey Daniels was hit by a pitch twice while he went 1-for-1 with one walk, one run, and three stolen bases. It brings his season total to 16, already clearing his 15 stolen bases from the 2023 season. Joey Woodrow (0-for-3, 1 RBI, 1 Sac Fly) and Zach Johnston (1-for-4, 1 RBI) each had one RBI.
Zachary Malone got the start on the mound and made it through 5 and 2/3 innings with four earned runs, six hits, ten strikeouts, and one walk. Aidan Chermol allowed just one baserunner in three and 1/3 innings of relief with no runs and two strikeouts.
Etown got things going with one run in the first inning. With two outs, they drew a hit batter and single, followed by a double steal. One run scored on a wild pitch, then Malone struck out the next batter to end the frame. Daniels got aboard in the bottom half as he was hit with two outs. He stole second, but the Blue Jays struck out the next batter.
Etown added another run in the second inning, starting the inning with a bunt single and an infield throwing error on yet another bunt. Malone struck out the next batter, conceded one run on an RBI groundout, then struck out another batter.
Malone again worked through trouble in the third after hitting two consecutive batters with one out, striking out a batter and then inducing a fielder's choice play. After going down in order in the second, the Eagles loaded the bases via walks from Tim Coleman, Charlie Bakken, and Daniels, but all three were eventually stranded.
Etown added another run in the fourth to make it 3-0. They got a runner on second on an outfield error, then a single up the middle scored him from third two batters later. They completed their scoring in the sixth inning with two runs, with both runs scoring on a pair of doubles down the line.
Things went quiet on both sides until Juniata's two-run bottom of the eighth inning. Warren got aboard with a one-out single, breaking the no-hitter. Daniels followed suit with a single; then the duo advanced into scoring position on a wild pitch. Woodrow scored Warren on a sacrifice fly, then a Johnston single down the left field line scored Daniels before a strikeout ended the eighth.
Jordan Chui walked to start the ninth inning, but the Elizabethtown pitcher recovered with a 4-6-3 double player. A groundout to first ended the game a batter later.
Juniata concludes the series with two games on Sunday at Langdon-Goodale Field. The first pitch of game one is scheduled for noon.
