(Posted May 4, 2004)


Huntingdon, PA - The Juniata College baseball team will be making its first appearance in the conference postseason since 2001 when the second-seeded Eagles host the third seed Moravian College for a first round game in the 2004 Commonwealth Conference Tournament on Wednesday May 5th in Huntingdon. The game will be played at 2:30 p.m. at Langdon Field on the Juniata campus.

Wednesday's other first round game features the top Messiah College hosting fourth seed Elizabethtown College. All four teams will then advance to Owls Field in Reading on Friday and Saturday May 7th and 8th to complete the double-elimination tournament. The champion will receive an automatic bid to the 2004 NCAA Division III Tournament.

Juniata enters the postseason with a record of 21-14 and finished second in the conference with mark of 14-7. Moravian sports a 13-20 overall record and finished 12-9 in the Commonwealth Conference. All three of the team's meetings this season took place in Tampa Florida in the early stages of the year. Juniata took two games in the three-game set earning 3-1 and 6-5 victories in games one and three, and dropping game two 7-3. Jayme Fye (Philipsburg/Philipsburg) tossed a complete-game five hitter in the 3-1 victory, while Will Russell (Tyrone Area/Tyrone) hit a pinch-hit solo home run that led to a three-run inning for Juniata. The Eagles also came from behind in the final game of the series as they scored four runs in the final two innings to earn the win. Seniors Marc Frailey (Middletown/Middletown) and Adam Camberg (Altoona/Altoona) each had three hits in the game, while Matt Garner (Bellwood-Antis/Bellwood) added three hits, including the game-winner in the ninth.

Juniata enters the postseason having won seven of its last eight games, all of them conference victories. The Eagles have shown a penchant for winning tight games as they have a 15-2 record this year in games decided by two runs or less.

Sophomore first baseman Walt Goedkoop (Manheim Township/Lancaster) finished the season as the leader in nearly every offensive category. He posted a .339 average with 39 hits, 14 doubles, three home runs, 27 runs scored and 25 RBI. Outfielder David Saintz (Titusville/Titusville) was nearly as strong as he closed the year with a .336 average, 38 hits, 23 runs and 19 RBI. He also added six triples which ties the Juniata single-season record.

Second baseman Russell matched Saintz with 38 hits and closed the year with a .304 average and a pair of home runs. In his first year as a starter Darren Hake (Red Lion/Red Lion) solidified Juniata's infield defense at shortstop while hitting .320. Zach Sternberg (McCaskey/Lancaster) has handled the catching duties this season and finished with 25 hits, 14 runs and 11 runs driven in. Frailey played third throughout the season and contributed a pair of home runs along with 24 hits and 11 RBI. Camberg is the primary DH for Juniata and finished with 28 hits, 15 runs and was tied for third on the team with 15 RBI.

In the outfield Troy Beaver (Bellwood-Antis/Bellwood) and Garner flank Saintz. Beaver scored 17 runs while adding 20 hits and stealing seven bases. Garner added 15 RBI of his own for the team and had 18 hits. Jesse Leonard (Shade/Johnstown) and Kodi Hockenberry (Red Land/Lewisberry) have each seen time in the outfield with Leonard batting .280, while Hockenberry contributed 14 hits and 14 runs.

On the mound, Fye paces the team with five wins and 32 strikeouts. Senior Ryan O'Donnell (Lebanon/Lebanon) has three wins on the season, 32 strikeouts and an ERA of 4.25. Lefty Cody Zong (Lewistown/McVeytown) leads the starters in ERA with a mark of 4.14. He has won his last two starts and has fanned 31 batters on the year. Andrew Michanowicz (Bishop Guilfoyle/Altoona) is 2-2 on the year with an ERA of 5.03 and 31 strikeouts.

In the bullpen, Eric Hatten (Dubois/Dubois) leads the team with a 2.77 ERA and five saves. Eric Bridenbaugh (Central/Martinsburg) has a 3.32 ERA and 13 strikeouts, while Derek Tyson (Penns Valley/Penns Valley) leads the team in appearances with 13. Eric Albright (Penn Cambria/Ashville) holds a 3.32 ERA which ranks third on the team.

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