DAVENPORT, FL. – Juniata College staged a dramatic comeback to knock-off Keuka 9-8 in 10 innings on Sunday afternoon, highlighted by Jacob Despot's walk-off home run. The Eagles erased a five-run deficit and scored four runs in the eighth inning to force extras before Despot sealed the win with his clutch blast in the 10th.
Keuka jumped out to an early lead, scoring twice in the first inning on a solo home run and an RBI double. A two-run homer extended the lead in the second, making it 4-0. The Wolves tacked on two more in the fourth with an RBI single and a run-scoring hit to push the score to 6-0.
Juniata answered in the bottom of the fourth when Tyler Mack doubled to drive in two runs, and Tim Coleman added an RBI groundout to cut the deficit to 6-3. After Keuka added two more runs in the fifth, including a solo homer, Juniata chipped away with an RBI double from Despot in the sixth.
The Eagles mounted a furious rally in the eighth. Mack's RBI single started the comeback before Despot doubled to left field, bringing home two more runs to make it 8-7. Zach Johnston followed with a game-tying single to center, setting the stage for extra innings.
In the bottom of the 10th, Despot came through once again, crushing a solo home run to left field to give Juniata the walk-off victory. Despot finished the day 3-for-5 with four RBIs, while Mack went 2-for-4 with two RBIs.
Robbie Pliszka earned the win for Juniata after tossing two scoreless innings in relief, allowing just one hit and striking out two.
Juniata gets the day off tomorrow, before a doubleheader against Worchester State on Wednesday.
