Baseball Splits with King’s On Final Day in Florida

AUBURNDALE, FLA.- Juniata baseball ended its eight-game Florida trip with a doubleheader against King's College on Friday morning. The Eagles dropped the first game 4-2 but came back to win the second game 6-2.

In Game 1, Juniata took a 1-0 lead in the top of the third as Chris Schreder's (Lititz, Pa./Lancaster Catholic) sacrifice bunt scored Josh Keszcyzk (Boyertown, Pa./Boyertown). The Eagles added to their lead in the fourth as Andrew Hay's (Willow Street, Pa./Lampeter-Strasburg) sacrifice fly brought Matt Innella (Commack, NY/Commack) home for a 2-0 JC advantage.

Starting pitcher Devin McLaughlin (Monmouth Beach, NJ/Shore Regional) was cruising through but ran into trouble in the bottom of the fifth. He struck out the first batter but the runner advanced to first on a wild pitch. A single and fielder's choice put runners on first and second with one out. A failed pickoff attempt advanced the runner, Sean McKee, to third. McKee scored on a throwing error by Isaac Kline (Everett, Pa./Bedford). One batter later, Chris Rebar smacked a homerun to score three runs and put the Monarchs on top 4-2.

McLaughlin went six innings and gave up four unearned runs on four hits. He struck out four and did not surrender a walk. Devyn Carper (Altoona, Pa./Altoona Area) and Kline had Juniata's only hits.

In Game 2, Juniata fell behind 2-0 after the top half of the third inning. A Kyle Supas single brought in two runs off of Eagles starter Drew Harshbarger (Mount Union, Pa./Mount Union).

The Eagles responded in their portion of the inning. Cameron Livingston (Blairsville, Pa./Blairsville) singled to lead off and back-to-back bunt singles from Carper and Schreder would load the bases. A fielder's choice from Kevin Starner (Manheim, Pa./Manheim Central) got Livingston out at home. Adam Kipp (Mt. Wolf, Pa./Northeastern) came up and singled through the left side to score Carper. Innella then singled to bring home Schreder. After Kline struck out swinging, Hunter Price's (Huntingdon, Pa./Huntingdon Area) single to center plated Starner to put Juniata ahead 3-2.

Juniata tacked on two more runs on RBI singles by Starner and Kipp. Starner brought in another run in the sixth on a single down the right field line.

Harshbarger went four innings and surrendered two runs on six hits. He walked one and struck out two. Kipp pitched three innings of relief with two hits given up and one walk while striking out three to pick up his first career save.

Starner went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and two runs batted in. Kipp batted 2-for-3 with two runs batted in. Schreder finished 2-for-3 with two runs and two stolen bases.

Juniata finishes its Florida trip 4-4. The Eagles begin Landmark Conference play next weekend when they travel to Scranton to play the Royals. Game 1 of the doubleheader will be at 1:00 p.m. and Game 2 at 3:30 p.m.