(Posted April 22, 2004)


Penn State-Altoona 9, Juniata 7

Altoona, Pa. ? Despite pounding out 13 hits, the Juniata College baseball team saw a late rally hand the team its fourth-straight loss as the Eagles fell to Penn State-Altoona 9-7 at Blair County Ballpark in Altoona Thursday afternoon. Penn State-Altoona scored a combined six runs in the fifth and sixth innings to take the victory. Juniata falls to 14-12 with the loss, while the home team improved to 14-16.

After a rocky start in which Juniata surrendered a pair unearned runs in the first, Juniata would put runs on the board in four consecutive innings to build a 7-3 lead.

It started in the second with Walt Goedkoop (Manheim Township/Lancaster) led off the frame with a double. Jesse Leonard (Shade/Johnstown) followed with a double to bring home Juniata?s first run of the game, and cut the lead to 2-1 in favor of Penn State-Altoona.

The home team added a third run in the second as Kyle Wright brought a run home with a sacrifice fly.

Juniata answered in the top of the third as another Goedkoop double brought home Zach Sternberg (McCaskey/Lancaster) who had reached base on a fielder?s choice.

Juniata then took control in the fourth as the Eagles knocked out two hits that brought in three runs. Dan DeRosa (Kingston/Kingston, N.Y.) came home on a fielder?s choice. A wild pitch led to Juniata?s second run of the inning as Troy Beaver (Bellwood-Antis/Bellwood) trotted in from third. Then Sternberg drove in Darren Hake (Red Lion/Red Lion) with a sacrifice fly to give Juniata a 5-3 edge.

The Eagles would plate another pair in the fifth as back-to-back singles from Leonard and Matt Garner (Bellwood-Antis/Bellwood) along with an outfield error led to one run. David Saintz (Titusville/Titusville) followed with a single to drive in Garner and Juniata seemed to be in control.

But Penn State-Altoona took advantage of Juniata?s bullpen, scoring six runs in the final two innings, highlighted by a four-run fifth. Jeff Thompson, Shaun Greeland, Wright and Jake Hargreaves all notched RBI singles in the inning as the Lions tied the game at seven.

Then in the sixth, with the bases loaded and one out, Thompson delivered again. This time he recorded a two-RBI single that put the home team in front.

Juniata would put the lead-off man on the seventh as Goedkoop ripped his third double of the game. A walk would put the tying run on with one out, but Juniata could not bring the runs around.

Goedkoop paced Juniata with his 3-for-4 afternoon. Will Russell (Tyrone/Tyrone) was also 3-for-4 for Juniata as was Saintz. Leonard and Garner both finished the game 2-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI. Eric Albright was charged with his first loss of the season.

Thompson led the home team as he finished 3-for-3 with three RBI and a run scored. Greenland and Wright both had a pair of hits, with Wright driving in two runs, and Greenland scoring a pair of runs. Brady Waltz allowed two runs in three and two-thirds inning of relief to get the win.

Juniata will return to action on Friday when the Eagles travel to play a single nine-inning game against conference foe Widener.

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