Late Rally Stopped Short, Eagles Drop Series Finale 7-3

HUNTINGDON, Pa. – It was senior day for Juniata College baseball on Sunday and the Eagles nearly pulled off the come-from-behind win against the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in their final home game of the season.  The Mariners held off a ninth inning push by Juniata (9-24, 4-11) to win 7-3 and improve to 16-12 overall, 11-7 in the Landmark.

Three Eagles finished with two hits on the day.  They were led by senior Chase Dykstra (Somerset, Pa./Somerset Area) who went a perfect 2-for-2 with two walks.  Fellow senior Ben Mersky (Hershey, Pa./Hershey) and junior Dan Gray (Johnstown, Pa./Richland) each finished with two hits as well.  Gray batted .500 and Mersky hit .400, respectively.

Starter Kyle Clausen pitched seven scoreless innings and the defense held Juniata off the board until the bottom of the ninth inning.

Sophomore Cody Krepps (Tyrone, Pa./Bellwood-Antis) led off with a single to left center.  The next batter was hit by his second pitch and Dykstra bunted for a hit down the third base line to load the bases.  Mersky then singled to left field on an 0-2 count and sent two runs across to end the shutout.  That spelled the end for reliever Brad Suciu and Christopher O'Donnell came in to close.

O'Donnell got the next batter to pop out, but Gray then singled to center off his first pitch, scoring Dykstra.  With two on and two outs, the Eagles were unable to get any more runs across and the game ended on a pop up.

Senior Day
Juniata recognized its five seniors before the start of the game.  Along with outfielders Dykstra and Mersky, seniors Cole Walters (Mt. Union, Pa./Mt. Union), Josh Green (Hagerstown, Md/Clear Springs) and Andrew Groninger (McAlisterville, Pa./East Juniata) were each announced and presented with gifts from head coach Jesse Leonard.

Mersky has started all 103 games in his career.   Over his four years, he has gone 32-for-42 in stolen bases, earned 123 hits and scored 77 runs. 

Dykstra started all but one of his 127 career games.  He has scored 79 runs and earned over 50 RBI over the course of his career.

Green has appeared in 46 games during his years as an Eagle.  The left-handed pitcher has 35 career strikeouts.  This season he is top five on the team in ERA and has a 1-2 record.

A right-handed pitcher, Groninger has earned four starts this season. He has appeared in 31 games over the course of his career and has a 3-3 career record.  In 2011, he had a career-best 5.79 ERA.

Walters has played catcher and first base during his time as an Eagle.  He has started in all but eight of his 110 career games played.  Over his four years, he has amassed 84 hits and 41 runs.

Juniata closes out its Landmark Conference season on the road with a three-game series against Susquehanna University that starts with a doubleheader on Saturday, April 27 and concludes with a single-game on Sunday, April 28.

Follow Your Eagles! Stay up-to-date on your Juniata College Eagles by logging onto www.juniatasports.net.  And don't forget to follow us on twitter (@JuniataEagles) and on Facebook (Juniata Eagles).