(Posted February 19, 2005)

Eastern Mennonite 11, Juniata 4
Juniata 7, Eastern Mennonite 5

Harrisonburg, Va. ? Sophomore Jeff Hayes (Indian Valley/Lewistown) pitched four innings of relief to earn his first win for the Eagle team as Juniata topped Eastern Mennonite 7-5 to salvage a split in the Eagles? season-opening doubleheader. Juniata rebounded after dropping the opening game of the doubleheader by an 11-4 score.

In game two with the score tied at four in the top of the sixth, Zach Sternberg (McCaskey/Lancaster) delivered an RBI single to plate Jesse Leonard (Shade/Johnstown) and put Juniata in front. Juniata would add two more runs in the top of the seventh to take control.

That was enough offense for Hayes who came on in relief of starter Cody Zong (McVeytown/Lewistown) and held the home team in check as Juniata rallied. Josh Lingenfelter (Claysburg-Kimmel/Claysburg) allowed one run, but struck out three batters in the bottom of the seventh to earn the win.

Juniata scored a pair of runs in the top of the first, with Walt Goedkoop (Manheim Township/Lancaster) driving in a run and scoring a run. Eastern Mennonite then answered with four runs in the bottom of the inning to take a 4-2 edge.

The Eagles got a run back in the third with Darren Hake (Red Lion/Red Lion) doubling, then coming home on a groundout from Troy Beaver (Bellwood-Antis/Bellwood). An inning later freshman Dan Kauffman (Penn Manor/Conestoga) tied the game with a solo homerun.

Goedkoop finished the game with a pair of hits and two RBI. Kauffman had a pair of runs scored in the game.

Eastern Mennonite took control of game one from the start, plating three runs in the bottom of the first off Juniata starter Darius Reed (Juniata Valley/Alexandria). The home team added a pair of runs in the second and third innings, before putting the game away with a four-run fifth inning.

Juniata looked to make a comeback with three runs in the top of the third. Goodkoep drove In Jason Enoch (Hempfield/Landisville) with a sacrifice fly, and then Leonard knocked in a pair of runs with a double. Juniata added its fourth run in the fourth with Enoch knocking in Paul Evans, but it was not enough as Eastern Mennonite claimed the 11-4 win.

Goedkoop again finished with two hits while Leonard was 1-for-3 with a pair of RBI.

Juniata returns to action next Saturday with a road game at Catholic University.

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