(Posted May 1, 2011)

HUNTINGDON, Pa. -- Juniata College baseball closed out Landmark Conference play with an 8-2 victory over the University of Scranton on Sunday in game three of the weekend series at Langdon-Goodale Field.

Juniata (16-21, 6-10 Landmark) scored three runs in the bottom of the second inning, one in the third, and four in the bottom of the fourth before the game was called due to rain after the fifth inning. Scranton(18-15, 12-6 Landmark) scored first in the top of the first frame and once again in the top of the fourth.

In the first inning, the Royals' Chris Stallone reached on a fielding error, stole second, advanced to third on a flyball, and David Giglio hit a sacrifice fly to drive Stallone home.

In the bottom of the second, Joe Sforza (Pittstown, N.J./Immaculata) smacked a double to score Andrew Hirsch (Annandale, Va./Falls Church) and Dan Gray (Johnstown, Pa./Richland).

The Eagles grabbed one more in the third frame as Ian Thorne (Germantown, Pa./Seneca Valley) singled, advanced to third off Johnny Martinez's (Mount Union, Pa./Mount Union) single, and scored on a wild pitch.

Sean Butler could only respond with one run for Scranton as he walked, advanced to third on a single, and came home on Jason Lane's single.

The Eagles tallied four runs in the bottom of the fourth. Hirsch started things off with a walk and Sforza doubled yet again, batting in Hirsch. Thorne reached on a fielder's choice to bring home Sforza. Martinez reached on an error and advanced to second, batting in Matt Fritz (Schnecksville, Pa./Parkland) who got on base with a walk. Thorne pushed the Eagles ahead, 8-2, scoring on a wild pitch.

Sforza helped the Eagle attack with a 2-for-2 effort, with one run and three RBI. Thorne enjoyed a 1-for-3 effort at the plate, scoring two runs with one RBI.

Starter Ryan Morrison (Lebanon, Pa./Lebanon Catholic) struck out one batter, walked four, on three hits and two earned runs in all five innings of work on the mound. The Royals' Matt Mosko pitched three innings, fanning one, walking three, on four earned runs and five hits. Neither a Juniata nor Scranton pitcher was credited with a win or loss due to the shortened game.

Juniata closes out their season with a non-conference doubleheader versus the University of Pitt-Bradford on Monday, May 2, at 2:00 p.m.

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