Big Eighth Inning Rally Falls Short as Eagles Drop 15-11 Decision to Lions

HARRISBURG, Pa. – The Juniata baseball team put up 10 runs in the top of the eighth to rally back into the game against Penn State – Harrisburg Wednesday evening but the Lions came out on top 15-11.

Through seven innings, Juniata had picked up just one run, compared to the 13 from the Lions. The Eagles run came in the top of the seventh when Chris Schreder (Lititz, Pa. / Lancaster Catholic) took advantage of Penn State – Harrisburg's mistakes and scored an unearned run. 

In the top of the eighth, the Eagles looked ahead at a 12-run deficit. Penn State – Harrisburg brought Andrew Proch to the mound to start the inning.

Josh Keszczyk (Boyertown, Pa. / Boyertown Area) and Devyn Carper (Altoona, Pa. / Altoona Area) drew back-to-back walks to start the inning before Anthony Lombardo (Altoona, Pa. / Altoona Area) singled to load the bases with no outs.

Joe Klusman (Wilmington, Del. / St. Elizabeth) hit a 2RBI-single to spark the rally and later advanced to second. An error from the third basemen would bring Isaac Kline (Everett, Pa. / Bedford) to first base and score Lombardo. Schreder would get hit by a pitch to reload the bases for Juniata. 

Zach Tobash (Macungie, Pa. / Allentown Central) doubled to knock in two and force a pitching change for the Lions. Penn State – Harrisburg recorded their first out on a groundout from Chris Sinisi (Altoona, Pa. / Altoona Area) that scored Schreder. Alex Matoushek (Scranton, Pa. / West Scranton) singled to bring in Tobash and make it 13-8. 

With two outs, Carper hit an RBI-single to bring in Matoushek. Lombardo followed with a 2-run homer, forcing another pitching change for the Lions. Penn State – Harrisburg got out of the inning shortly after with the Eagles now down by two.

The Lions recorded two runs in the bottom half of the inning to go up by four. With two outs in the ninth, Juniata continued to fight. Tobash singled out to centerfield before Sinisi was hit by a pitch. Matoushek loaded the bases on a single before the Lions retired the final batter on a strikeout to secure the win, 15-11. 

J.D. Weyant (New Paris, Pa. / Chestnut Ridge) started on the mound for the Eagles and tossed 3.2 innings, striking out two batters. David DeFreest (Duxburry, Vt. / Harwood Union) finished out the fourth inning before Matoushek tossed two and Sinisi came in to close the game.

Juniata finishes out the season on the road with a three-game series against Catholic. The Eagles and Royals start their series with a doubleheader Sat. April 30 at 1:00 p.m.