(Posted May 1, 2004)

Juniata 2, Susquehanna 0
Susquehanna 7, Juniata 4

Huntingdon, Pa. ? The Juniata College baseball team got a sterling pitching performance in game one, but could not earn the sweep of its regular-season finale doubleheader against Susquehanna in Selinsgrove Saturday afternoon. Juniata had already clinched both a spot in the Commonwealth Conference postseason, as well as home field advantage for the first round of the Commonwealth postseason. The Eagles finish the regular season with a record of 21-14 overall and 14-7 in the Commonwealth Conference. Susquehanna closes its season with a mark of 8-26 and 3-18 in the Commonwealth.

By virtue of other results in the conference, Juniata earns the second seed for the conference tournament, and will host third seed Moravian on Wednesday.

Game one belonged to sophomore hurler Cody Zong (Lewistown/McVeytown) who earned his second win of the season by tossing a complete-game two-hit victory. Zong surrendered just two hits and walked one while striking out six.

Susquehanna?s Bud Schmidt was nearly as sharp as Zong as he scattered seven hits and struck out three in seven innings.

Juniata threatened in the fourth as Adam Camberg (Altoona/Altoona) and Zach Sternberg (McCaskey/Lancaster) began the inning with back-to-back singles. Two outs later Jesse Leonard (Shade/Johnstown) singled to center, but Sternberg was thrown out at the plate to preserve the scoreless tie.

The only two runs of the game came in the top of the fifth as Juniata broke through with a pair of runs. Kodi Hockenberry (Red Land/Lewisberry) started the inning with a single. After Schmidt retired the next two hitters Walt Goedkoop (Manheim Township/Lancaster) tripled to right center to plate Hockenberry. Goedkoop then came home on a wild pitch for Juniata?s final run.

Leonard was the only Eagle with two hits in the contest as five Juniata players each had one hit.

Juniata used four different pitchers in game two, but Susquehanna scored three runs in the first and fourth innings, then added one more in the fifth to capture the 7-4 win.

Juniata took the early lead when David Saintz (Titusville/Titusville) tripled to start the game. A groundout from Leonard brought him home and put Juniata up 1-0.

The Crusaders answered by scoring three runs on just one hit in the bottom of the first off Juniata starter Tyler Brown (South Huntingdon/Orbisonia). Brown allowed three runs on just one hit in his first career start, walking three and striking out three.

Juniata took back the lead with three runs in the third. Matt Pierotti (Huntingdon/Huntingdon) singled and scored on an error. Saintz walked, stole second and came home on a Goedkoop double. Finally, Darren Hake (Red Lion/Red Lion) singled home Goedkoop and Juniata was on top 4-3.

Susquehanna took back the lead with three runs on a pair of hits in the fourth inning. Chris Anderson (Penn Manor/Lancaster) lasted just a third of an inning before being relieved by Ryan O?Donnell (Lebanon/Lebanon). The Crusaders scored a pair of runs on wild pitches, and then an infield fielder?s choice.

A sacrifice fly from Chris Mothershed brought home an insurance run in the bottom of the fourth and gave Susquehanna the 7-4 lead.

Hake paced the Eagles with a 2-for-3 performance and an RBI. Saintz finished the game with a hit and two runs scored. Anderson was charged with his first run of the season.

Greg Dobson pitched three and two-thirds innings of scoreless relief to earn the victory for Susquehanna. He scattered three hits in the outing.

Matt Reichard was 2-for-3 in game two with a run scored and an RBI. Juniata actually out-hit the Crusaders 7-5, but Juniata pitchers surrendered seven walks and threw three wild pitches.

Juniata is returning to the conference postseason for the first time since 2001.

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