(Posted April 28, 2004)

Juniata 4, Albright 3
Juniata 5, Albright 3

Huntingdon, Pa. ? The Juniata College baseball team is getting hot at the right time as the Eagles extended their conference winning streak to five with a doubleheader sweep of conference foe Albright in Huntingdon Wednesday afternoon. Juniata now stands at 19-13 overall on the season, and 12-6 in the Commonwealth Conference. Albright fell to 13-17 overall and 8-9 in the conference with the set-backs.

The Eagles now just need to win one of their final three conference games to secure a spot in the conference postseason.

Walt Goedkoop (Manheim Township/Lancaster) delivered the big hit in the second game of the twin-bill as he dumped a two-out bases loaded single into centerfield to break a 3-3 tie and put Juniata on top 5-3.

Jayme Fye (Philipsburg/Philipsburg) who had worked out of a bases-loaded no-out jam in the sixth, then closed the door in the seventh to earn the victory.

Albright?s run in the sixth had tied the game at three, after the Eagles scored a run in the bottom of the fifth to move in front 3-2. An RBI double from Adam Camberg (Altoona/Altoona) chased home David Saintz (Titusville/Titusville) to put Juniata on top. Albright would load the bases in the sixth against reliever Derek Tyson (Penns Valley/Penns Valley) before Fye came on and worked out of the threat. Scott Hoffman?s sacrifice fly accounted for the Lion?s only run in the inning, which set-up Juniata?s sixth-inning heroics.

The Eagles took an early lead in the game when Saintz tripled to lead off the game. He came in to score on Darren Hake?s (Red Lion/Red Lion) two-out double. The Eagles added another run in the bottom of the fourth with an RBI double from Matt Garner (Bellwood-Antis/Bellwood) bringing in Zach Sternberg (McCaskey/Lancaster).

Albright answered with a pair of runs off Juniata starter Darius Reed (Juniata Valley/Alexandria) in the top of the fifth. After retiring the first two hitters, Albright mounted a rally, loading the bases with two walks and a hit batter. Adam Keppley delivered a single that scored two, and tied the game at two. They were the only runs Reed allowed as he tossed five innings allowing the two runs on five hits.

Saintz was 3-for-4 to lead Juniata in game two, and he also scored two runs. Goedkoop had a pair of hits and two RBI.

Dave Omlor came on in relief for Albright with one out in the sixth and was charged with the loss.

Juniata jumped ahead early in game one as well, pushing across two runs in the bottom of the second to take the lead. The two teams would match each other with a run apiece in both the third and fourth innings, then the Lions added one more in the sixth to get back within one, but couldn?t close the gap.

A sacrifice fly from Sternberg brought home Hake with the games first run in the second. Will Russell (Tyrone Area/Tyrone) singled to bring home Juniata?s second run and give the Eagles a 2-0 lead.

Ryan O?Donnell (Lebanon/Lebanon) would hold that lead for the Eagles as he allowed three runs?two earned in six innings of work. He upped his record to 3-1 with the win, while Eric Hatten (Dubois/Dubois) pitched the seventh to record his fourth consecutive save.

An RBI single in the third from Albright?s Dave Ciccone and then a single from Hoffman followed by an error accounted for Albright?s runs in the third and fourth.

Saintz manufactured Juniata?s third run in the bottom of the third. He doubled to lead-off, then with two outs stole third and scored as the throw got away from the third baseman. In the fourth, Marc Frailey (Middletown/Middletown), Sternberg and Russell all singled to load the bases with no one out. Jesse Leonard (Shade/Johnstown) grounded into a double play that brought home Juniata?s fourth run.

After adding the run in the sixth the Lions put two men on base in the seventh as Hatten walked a pair with one out. A fielder?s choice moved the tying run to third, but Hatten induced a ground out to earn his fifth save of the season.

Dave Ganovsky allowed just two earned runs in six innings, yet was charged with the loss for Albright.

Frailey was 2-for-3 with a pair of runs scored to lead the Eagle offense in the win. Russell finished the game 2-for-2 with an RBI.

The Eagles will be back in action on Thursday when they host Susquehanna for the regular-season home finale.

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