Juniata Drops Single Game at Gettysburg

GETTYSBURG, Pa. – Juniata College baseball fell on the road in non-conference action Monday afternoon.  The Eagles dropped a single game at Gettysburg College 14-5.  Juniata (8-20) scored its five runs off six hits.  Gettysburg improved to 20-10 with the win.

Freshman Joe Klusman (Wilmington, Del./St. Elizabeth) led the team with two hits, going 2-for-3 from the plate.  But Bullet starter Joe Saladino held the Eagles off the board for over six innings.

With one out in the top of the seventh, back-to-back singles to left center allowed Klusman to load the bases with a single to right field.  Senior Chase Dykstra (Somerset, Pa./Somerset Area) then doubled down the left field line and cleared the bases.  The knock spelled the end for Saladino who was relieved by Brett Norton.  A wild pitch by the new arm advanced Dykstra to third and fellow senior Ben Mersky (Hershey, Pa./Hershey) took advantage.  He grounded out to first and earned his 122 RBI of the season as Dykstra sprinted across.

The Eagles put one more run up in the eighth, but Gettysburg earned five more in the bottom of the inning to secure the win.  Saladino earned the win while junior Joe Sforza (Pittstown, N.J./Immaculata) received the loss.

Juniata returns home for its final two home series of the season.  They face Penn State Altoona in a doubleheader on Wednesday, April 17 and then a three-game series against Merchant Marine April 20-21.  The Eagles will be recognizing their five seniors on Sunday against Merchant Marine.

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