Blue Jays offense shakes Eagles

ELIZABETHTOWN, PA – The Juniata men’s baseball team (6-11, 2-9 Landmark) fell in a doubleheader against Elizabethtown (15-8, 6-5 Landmark) Saturday afternoon. The Eagles were able to contain the Blue Jays and keep the score close in game one until the fourth inning when Elizabethtown stacked on five runs. Elizabethtown broke away late in game two as well, adding on five runs in the sixth inning.

Eric Grace (Hopewell, PA / Northern Bedford) tossed the first three innings for Juniata. Grace allowed five hits, seven runs (four unearned), and struck out 3. Wayne Hydak (North Versailles, PA / Serra Catholic) stepped in in the fourth. Elizabethtown’s bats were hot and the Blue Jays were able to get four more hits and tack on four runs. J.D. Weyant (New Paris, PA / Northern Bedford) stepped in for the Eagles for the final two innings. Weyant struck out one and kept the Blue Jays without a hit the remainder of the game.

The Eagles had their bats ready to start the first. Jacob Terry (Denver, PA / Cocalico HS) hit a leadoff double to center and was later brought in by Anthony Lombardo with an RBI-single. Brady Cotler (Chadds Ford, PA / Salesianum) was up next for Juniata and hit an RBI-single to left, bringing in Chris Schreder (Litiz, PA / Lancaster Catholic).

After the Blue Jays had gone up 4-2 after two innings, the Eagles were looking to generate another offensive spark. Cotler earned his second RBI of the game with a single to left center, bringing in Schreder once more.

Elizabethtown broke away in the bottom of the fourth, adding on 5 runs that brought the game to its final score of 11-3. Kris Davis was the winning pitcher for the Blue Jays, tossed a complete game, allowed seven hits, three runs and struck out eight.

In game two, the Eagles got on the board in the first inning once again. This time, Cotler got to first on a fielding error by Austin Kibler. Terry scored an unearned run on the error. The Blue Jays responded back immediately, tacking on two runs in the bottom of the first. 

Chris Fulton (West Chester, PA / Unionville High School) was the starting pitcher for Juniata in game two. Fulton was on the mound for four innings, allowed two hits, two runs and struck out one. Chris Sinisi (Altoona, PA / Altoona Area) came into the game briefly and allowed one hit, two runs and four walks. Hydak was in for relief again in game two, this time he allowed four hits and five runs. Caleb Pepperday (Phillipsburg, PA / Phillipsburg-Osceola HS) finished the game for the Eagles.

Juniata’s second run came in the top of the fifth inning when Eric Grace singled to right field to bring in Schreder.

The winning pitcher for Elizabethtown was Kevin Elwell. Elwell tossed five innings, allowed seven hits, two runs (one unearned) and struck out one.

Juniata and Elizabethtown meet at Kevin S. Boyd Stadium again on Monday, April 6 to make up Friday’s game that was postponed due to weather conditions.