(Posted March 11, 2011)

LAKELAND, Fla. -- After an extra day off due to weather, Juniata College baseball returned to action on Friday splitting a doubleheader versus King's College. The Eagles posted a 9-7 win in game one, but dropped game two of the twin bill, 8-6.

In game one, Juniata (4-3) posted five runs in the second inning and tacked on two more in the third, with single runs in the first and fifth innings on its way to the win.

Benjamin Mersky (Hershey, Pa./Hershey), Joe Sforza (Pittstown, N.J./Immaculata), and Ian Thorne (Germantown, Pa./Seneca Valley) each had a pair of hits for the Eagles, while Matt Fritz went 1-for-3 with two runs batted in.

Juniata starter John Love (Loysburg, Pa./Northern Bedford) scattered four hits in six innings of work while allowing three unearned runs on his way to the win. He struck out three while yielding two walks.

Mario DeYulius (Ebensburg, Pa./Central Cambria) and Ben Sealy (Seneca Falls, N.Y./Mynderse Academy) each worked the seventh inning, with Sealy picking up the save for his one batter retired.

In game two, Juniata came back from a 4-1 deficit to score five runs in the top of the seventh and take a 6-4 lead. However King's posted four runs on a walk-off grand slam home run to steal the win.

Mersky and Dan Fenton (Johnstown, Pa./Richland) each finished with a pair of hits in the second game, with Mersky and John Martinez (Mount Union, Pa./Mount Union) each plating a pair of runs.

Sforza allowed four earned runs on five hits and two walks with six strikeouts in six-and-a-third innings of no-decision work on the hill. Sealy, who faced two batters in the seventh, was charged with the loss.

Juniata finishes up its 2011 spring break slate on Saturday when it faces Oneonta State at 9:00 a.m. in Lakeland, Fla.

-30-

Our readers respond...

Be the first to provide a response.

Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.