(Posted March 18, 2006)

Juniata 4, Susquehanna 0
Juniata 8, Susquehanna 2

SELINSGROVE, Pa. ? The Juniata College baseball team improved to 6-0 in the Commonwealth conference courtesy of a doubleheader sweep over conference rival Susquehanna in Selinsgrove Saturday afternoon. Juniata claimed game one 4-0 and then claimed an 8-2 win in game two to move to 11-4 overall on the season, while Susquehanna fell to 2-9 and 0-3 in conference play.

Juniata earned the sweep in two different ways, riding a stellar pitching performance from Cody Zong (Lewistown/McVeytown) in game one, and then rode a strong offensive attack to the game-two win. Going back to last season Juniata has now won 10-consecutive regular-season conference games.


In a pitcher?s dual between Zong and Crusaders starter John Lunardi, the Eagles got all the runs they needed with a pair of runs in the third on an RBI single from Walt Goedkoop (Manheim Township/Lancaster) and an RBI triple from Will Russell (Tyrone/Tyrone).

Zong controlled the home team throughout the game as he surrendered just three hits and struck out five in earning the complete-game victory. The senior improved to 3-1 with the win.

Lunardi was nearly as strong for the home team as he held the Eagles to seven hits over seven innings and fanned six.

Juniata gave Zong two insurance runs with single runs in the fifth and seventh innings. Dan Kauffman (Penn Manor/Conestoga) singled home David Saintz (Titusville/Titusville) in the fifth, and then drove home Darren Hake (Red Lion/Red Lion) in the seventh.

Saintz was 3-for-4 in the game with two runs scored, while Kauffman finished 2-for-3 with the two RBI. Matt Ruane had two of the three hits for the Crusaders.

Juniata?s offense then got into gear in the second contest scoring eight runs on nine hits. The Eagles got on the board first with three runs in the top of the second. A pair of Susquehanna errors led to three unearned runs in the frame. The home team answered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the inning, as a Lunardi single cut the lead to 3-2.

That was the last time the Crusaders got on the scoreboard as starter Andrew Snyder (Punxsutawney/Punxsutawney) allowed two runs over five innings. Jeff Hayes (Indian Valley/Lewistown) pitched the final two innings.

Juniata extended its lead with one run in the third, and then scored a pair of runs in both the fourth and fifth innings to put the contest away. Russell delivered an RBI single in the third to put Juniata up 4-2. A Troy Beaver (Bellwood-Antis/Bellwood) RBI single, and another unearned run added to the lead in the fourth, and Hake capped the scoring with an RBI double in the fifth.

Brian Ahearn was charged with the loss for the home team as he allowed six runs, two earned, and six its over four innings.

Russell had a pair of hits in three at-bats for Juniata with an RBI and a run scored. Saintz also knocked out a pair of hits and scored a run.

Matt Reichard and Kurt Yanelli each had a pair of hits and a run scored for Susquehanna which finished the game with six hits.

Juniata returns to action on Tuesday with a non-conference doubleheader against Penn State-Altoona.

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