Big Eighth Inning Lifts Juniata Past Mount Aloysius, Holds Off Late Rally

Cresson, Pa. – The Juniata baseball team used a five-run eighth inning to defeat Mount Aloysius, 10-9, on Wednesday afternoon.

After falling behind 3-0 through four innings, Juniata began to chip away in the fifth. Zach Johnston delivered a two-run double down the left field line to cut the deficit to one.

The Eagles took the lead in the sixth when Ricky Scott lined a two-run single down the right field line, scoring Matthew Koehler and Ethan Pfeffer to make it 4-3.

Juniata added another run in the seventh as Johnston stole third and came home on a throwing error, extending the lead to 5-3.

The Eagles broke the game open in the eighth, scoring five runs. Johnston drove in a run with his second double of the day, Charlie Bakken followed with an RBI single, and Pfeffer added an RBI hit before Koehler capped the inning with a two-run single to push the lead to 10-4.

Mount Aloysius mounted a rally in the ninth, scoring five runs, highlighted by a three-run home run from Trent Dickson, but Ben Ryan held on to secure the save.

Johnston led the offense with a 4-for-6 performance, two doubles, three RBI, and two runs scored. Koehler added three hits and two RBI, while Scott finished with two hits and two RBI. Connor Blough scored twice and added a hit, and Jace Irvin recorded two hits as part of Juniata's 15-hit effort.

On the mound, Connor Rohm earned the win after allowing three runs over five innings. Tim Coleman and Krieg Pierce combined for three innings of relief before Ryan recorded the final outs.

Juniata totaled 15 hits in the win and improved to 9-16 overall.

The Eagles will host conference opponent Elizabethtown for a three-game series this weekend.