(Posted April 1, 2007)

HUNTINGDON, Pa. - The Juniata College baseball team used a seven-run seventh inning to rally from a four-run deficit and claim a 9-6 victory over Susquehanna University in the first game of a Commonwealth doubleheader Sunday afternoon. Game two was postponed in the bottom of the fifth inning, making it an incomplete game and it will need to be made up in its entirety. Juniata (11-8-1, 4-2-1 Commonwealth) pounded out 13 hits in the game-one win, including seven base hits in the decisive third inning. Susquehanna (6-9-1, 1-6-1 Commonwealth) had nine hits in the contest but also allowed two unearned runs while committing three errors. Juniata jumped in front in the bottom of the first. Jordan Reitz (Waynesboro/Waynesboro) singled to lead off the inning. Kevin Small (Wheaton North/Wheaton, Ill.) followed with a single to right, and the ball rolled under the rightfielder\'s glove allowing Reitz to come around and score. Susquehanna rallied back to take the lead with five runs in the five runs in the third. The Crusaders pounded out four hits with two outs, as Brian Ahearn, Tyler Reichard and Chris Price each delivered RBI singles and then Ben Leonard doubled home a pair of runs to cap the inning. The Eagles answered back with their own big inning, pushing across seven runs on seven hits in the bottom of the frame. Each of the seven hits were singles as Juniata sent 12 batters to the plate. Dan Kauffman (Penn Manor/Conestoga) and Cory Poff (Red Lion/Red Lion) delivered the first two runs with RBI singles. Ben Yeager (Owen J. Roberts/Pottstown) singled through the left side to plate a pair of runners and tie the score at five. Steve Wilk (Blairsville/Hollidaysburg) followed with an RBI single and then Reitz capped the rally by dropping a single into leftfield to plate the seventh run. That was enough cushion for Juniata starter Tyler Clifford (Homer-Center/Homer City) who earned his first collegiate win by allowing six runs, five earned, on eight hits over five innings. He struck out five in the game. Susquehanna got one run back in the fifth with a sacrifice fly from Zak Hill cutting Juniata\'s lead to 8-6. Juniata countered with a run in the bottom of the inning as Reitz drove home Wilk with a single that put Juniata in front 9-6. Brian Markovich (Northern Cambria/Northern Cambria) closed out the win with two innings of scoreless relief. Reitz led the Juniata offensive attach as he went 4-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored. Wilk finished 2-for-2 with an RBI and a run, while Small also had two hits and scored a run. Josh Weber was tagged with the loss for Susquehanna as he allowed all nine runs over five innings. He fanned a pair of Juniata hitters. Price finished the game with three hits and RBI and a run scored for the Crusaders. Reichard was 2-for-4 with a pair of runs and an RBI while Leonard had two hits and two RBI. Juniata\'s next scheduled game is against conference foe Messiah, on the road, on Thursday. No reschedule date has been set to play the second game of the doubleheader between Juniata and Susquehanna. ###

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