HUNTINGDON, PA- Starting pitcher Eric Grace (Hopewell, PA/Northern Bedford) was solid over eight innings as he limited Drew to just two runs as Juniata defeated the Rangers 5-3 at Langdon-Goodale Field on Saturday afternoon. The win is the first for the Eagles in Landmark played and improves their overall record to 5-8. Drew falls to 5-9 and 3-3 in the Landmark.
Grace pitched 7.2 innings and gave up five hits. He walked four and struck out three. Both of the runs he surrendered were unearned. Wayne Hydak (Northern Versailles, PA/Serra Catholic) relieved him and went 1.1 innings while giving up three hits, one earned run, one walk, and struck out two batters.
The Rangers plated a run in the first inning on a sacrifice bunt. Another run came across in the second inning when an error brought in another run.
Juniata did its damage in the bottom half of the second. Anthony Lombardo (Altoona, PA/Altoona Area) led off with walk. Brady Cotler (Chadds Ford, PA/Salesianum) was then hit by a pitch. After David DeFreest (Duxburry, VT/Harwood Union) struck out, Chris Sinisi (Altoona, PA/Altoona Area) then walked to load the bases. Joe Klusman (Wilmington, DE/St. Elizabeth) walked to score a run and make it 2-1. Cody Krepps' (Tyrone, PA/Bellwood-Antis) single to center brought Sinisi and Cotler in to JC a 3-2 lead. Klusman scored on a wild pitch that moved Krepps to third. Jacob Terry (Denver, PA/Cocalico) singled down the left field line to score Krepps as the Eagles led 5-3.
Grace got out of a jam in the fourth inning. The Rangers had runners on first and second with two outs and both moved up a base on a passed ball. Grace ended the threat as he struck out Drew's Ryan Sabbag to end the inning.
The Rangers attempted a rally in the top of the ninth. Steve Kowalski led of with a single and then stole second. Hydak struck out Sabbag and got Tommy Broyles to fly out to left field. Bobby Miskura was hit by a pitch to get on base. Anthony Feltre's single scored Kowalski to make it 5-3. Mike Miraglia singled to load the bases. Hydak got the last out he needed as he struck out J.C. Rasic to end the game.
Krepps went 1-for-2 with two RBIs and a run scored. Lombardo was 1-for 3 with a run scored.
The two teams will play a doubleheader tomorrow. Game 1 will start at 12 p.m. with Game 2 beginning around 2:30 p.m.