(Posted April 27, 2007)

HUNTINGDON, Pa. - The Juniata College baseball team needed a strong showing over its final four games to have a shot at the Commonwealth Conference postseason, but the Eagles did not get the start they needed as Juniata dropped a 4-2 decision to Albright College in its home finale Friday afternoon. Juniata (15-16-1, 8-9-1 Commonwealth) is now 2 1-2 games out of the final postseason spot with three games remaining on its schedule. Albright (13-18, 8-11 Commonwealth) is also still alive for the postseason but the Lions will need to sweep Juniata in a doubleheader tomorrow and get lots of help from other teams. Jason Enoch (Hempfield/Lancaster) pitched all nine innings for Juniata, allowing four runs, three earned, on eight hits. He struck out six in the game. But the Juniata hurler was out-dueled by Albright freshman Casey Lawrence who held Juniata to two runs on seven hits with nine strikeouts to improve to 5-0 on the season. Albright got started quickly in the first as three of the first four hitters knocked out singles to give the visitors a 2-0 lead. Jordan Boyer and Jeff Kulp each drove in runs with singles off Enoch. Juniata\'s senior hurler settled in from there, as he kept Albright off the scoreboard for the next six innings. The Eagles answered with one run in the bottom of the first. Jordan Reitz (Waynesboro/Waynesboro) drew a leadoff walk, then came home on a two-out single from Dane Ott (South Williamsport/South Williamsport) to pull Juniata within a run. Reitz and Ott teamed up again in the third as Reitz started the inning with a bunt single and moved to second on an error. Ott again came through with two outs as he singled up the middle to chase home Reitz and tie the game at two. Albright broke through again in the eighth as the visitors reclaimed the lead. With one out Kyle Wenrich tripled. Two walks loaded the bases and Kulp followed with a sacrifice fly to right to score one run. A throwing error from Juniata at the end of the play brought home a second run as Albright took a 4-2 edge. Shawn McDonald (Bishop Canevin/Pittsburgh) started the eighth inning with a single for Juniata but the Eagles could not advance him. The Blue and Gold then went down in order in the ninth. Ott was 2-for-4 on the day with both of Juniata\'s RBI. Reitz had one hit and scored both runs, while four other Eagles finished with one hit. Wenrich led Albright with a pair of hits and a run scored. Kulp was 1-for-3 with two RBI and Boyer had one hit with an RBI and a run scored. Juniata and Albright will conclude a three-game series on Saturday with a doubleheader at Albright. ###

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Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.