(Posted April 20, 2007)

ANNVILLE, Pa. - The Juniata College baseball team did not get off to the start the Eagles wanted in a critical three-game series against Lebanon Valley College as an eight-run sixth inning for the home team was the difference in a 10-3 set-back for the Eagles. Juniata (14-13-1, 7-7-1 Commonwealth) entered the contest a game-and-a-half behind Lebanon Valley (14-14, 10-6 Commonwealth) in the conference standings but was unable to overcome the eight-run outburst in the sixth inning for the Flying Dutchmen. Kevin Small (Wheaton North/Wheaton, Ill.) had three of Juniata\'s nine hits in the game. Lebanon Valley pushed out to the early lead with a pair of runs in the bottom of the second. An RBI single from Richie Schwartz and a run-scoring double by Joe Soupik pushed across two runs against Juniata starter Jason Enoch (Hempfield/Lancaster). Enoch seemed to settle in from there, though he stranded a pair of runners on base in the fourth and fifth innings. Meanwhile, Juniata was unable to breakthrough against Lebanon Valley starter Matt Sanders despite putting two runners on in the first, third and sixth innings. The home team then broke the game open with its eight-run sixth. An RBI fielder\'s choice started the scoring, and then a bases-loaded walk made the score 4-0 Flying Dutchmen and was the final batter Enoch faced. Reliever Tyler Clifford (Homer-Center/Homer-City) was greeted by a two-RBI double from Corey Lamoureux that pushed the lead to 6-0. A sacrifice fly brought in the next run and that was followed by a Chris Schank two-run homer to make it 9-0 Flying Dutchmen. Grant Wiest singled in the final run of the frame to cap the scoring and put the home team up 10-0. Juniata got three runs back in the top of the ninth. The Eagles loaded the bases with two outs, and then Dan DeRosa (Kingston/Bloomington, N.Y.) was hit by a pitch to plate the first run. Ben Yeager (Owen J. Roberts/Pottstown) and Kyle Saxman (York Suburban/York) then each drew walks to cut the lead to 10-3. Reliever Andrew Hobbins came on to get the final out of the game. Enoch was charged with the loss for Juniata as he allowed seven earned runs on seven hits over five innings of work. He struck out three in the contest. Small was 3-for-5 in the contest while Dan Kauffman (Penn Manor/Conestoga) had a pair of hits. Jordan Reitz (Waynesboro/Waynesboro) was 1-for-3 with a run scored. Sanders went eight innings to claim the win for the Flying Dutchmen allowing no runs on eight hits and fanning seven. Wiest was 4-for-4 in the game with a run scored, while Schank had two hits and drove in two runs. Juniata and Lebanon Valley will complete their three-game series on Saturday as the Eagles host the Flying Dutchmen for a doubleheader. ###

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