Juniata Drops Landmark Doubleheader to Moravian in Florida

Auburndale, Fla. – Juniata baseball opened Landmark Conference play Friday with a doubleheader against Moravian at the RussMatt Invitational at Lake Myrtle Field #8, falling 5-2 in game one and 9-6 in the nightcap.

Game One: Moravian 5, Juniata 2

Juniata struck first in the fourth inning. Jace Irvin reached and later scored when Jackson Cunnane tripled down the right-field line to give the Eagles a 1-0 lead. David Beard followed with a sacrifice fly to center, pushing the advantage to 2-0.

Moravian answered with three runs in the bottom of the fourth. A sacrifice fly by Nathan Jones plated the Greyhounds' first run before two unearned runs scored to give Moravian a 3-2 lead.

The Greyhounds added two insurance runs in the seventh inning, scoring once on a balk and once on a wild pitch to extend the lead to 5-2.

Juniata totaled five hits in the game. Connor Blough led the Eagles with two hits, while Matthew Quigley added a double and Cunnane drove in a run with his triple.

On the mound, Braelan Huber took the loss despite allowing just one earned run across five innings. He gave up three hits while walking five and striking out eight. Tim Coleman pitched the final three innings, allowing two runs and striking out six.

Moravian's Ross Huffman earned the win, tossing a complete game with 16 strikeouts while allowing two runs on five hits.

Game Two: Moravian 9, Juniata 6

Moravian jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the second inning, scoring four unearned runs.

Juniata got on the board in the fifth when Ricky Scott scored on an error following a ball put in play by Zach Johnston, cutting the deficit to 4-1.

The Eagles surged ahead with a five-run sixth inning. Ayden Thelen brought home a run with a sacrifice fly before Jordan Chui singled to right to drive in another. Two Moravian defensive errors allowed additional runs to score, and Johnston capped the inning with an RBI single to give Juniata a 6-4 lead.

Moravian responded in the eighth with a five-run inning to reclaim the lead. Matt Westcott delivered a two-run double to tie the game before the Greyhounds added three more runs in the frame to take a 9-6 advantage.

Connor Blough led Juniata at the plate, going 3-for-4 with two doubles and a run scored. Landon Blank added two doubles and two hits, while Johnston finished with two RBIs. Ricky Scott scored twice and drove in a run.

On the mound, Hunter Thomas allowed four runs, none earned, over five innings while striking out six. Ben Ryan followed with two scoreless innings of relief before Moravian rallied in the eighth.

Juniata falls to 4-6 overall and 0-2 in Landmark Conference play following the doubleheader. They will finish up the three-game series tomorrow at 10am.