(Posted April 25, 2007)

GETTYSBURG, Pa. - An unearned run in the bottom of the ninth inning was the difference as the Juniata College baseball team dropped a 3-2 non-conference game to Gettysburg College on a wet and dreary day in Gettysburg. Juniata (15-15-1) trailed 2-1 heading into the top of the ninth inning and scored the tying run, only to have Gettysburg (23-8) come back with the winning run in the bottom of the frame. Kevin Small (Wheaton North/Wheaton, Ill.) singled with one out and then moved to third on an infield error. Dan DeRosa (Kingston/Bloomington, N.Y.) then brought him home with a fielder\'s choice to tie the score at two. Gettysburg responded as a throwing error from the Eagles put the winning run on second with one out. An infield groundout moved the runner to third and Mike Backus followed with a single to left to plate the winning run. Tyler Brown (Southern Huntingdon/Orbisonia) was charged with the loss for Juniata as he pitched 1 2-3 innings of relief, allowing one unearned run on one hit. Freshman Kyle Helm (Chambersburg/Chambersburg) was solid on the mound for Juniata as he tossed seven innings scattering seven hits and allowing two runs. He struck out six in the performance. Gettysburg jumped out to an early lead against Helm with a run in the bottom of the first. Chase Straub singled home Scott Vladyka with the first run of the contest. The Bullets then made it 2-0 with a run in the bottom of the sixth on an RBI single from Mark Campo. The Eagles cut into the lead with a run in the seventh. DeRosa reached on an error, and after advancing to third on a wild pitch, crossed the plate on a single from Anthony Trutt (Indian Valley/Lewistown) to pull Juniata within one. The Eagles managed five hits in the game as the Bullets used three pitchers over nine innings. Packer Larson tossed the final three innings and got the win, despite allowing both Juniata runs. Chris Liegel and Jeff McAndrew each did not allow a run in three innings of work. Small had a pair of hits for Juniata in the contest, while Dan Kauffman (Penn Manor/Conestoga) was 1-for-4 with a double. Straub had three of Gettysburg\'s nine hits in the game while also scoring a run and adding an RBI. Backus and Vladyka each added two hits apiece for the home team. Juniata returns home on Friday for a single nine-inning game against Commonwealth foe Albright College. The Eagles enter the final weekend of the regular season a game-and-a-half out of the final postseason spot in the conference. ###

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