By: Laura Chapman
Assistant Sports Information Director
chapmal@juniata.edu • juniatasports.net

AUBRUNDALE, Fl. – On the first day of spring break, the Juniata College baseball team fought a tight battle with New Jersey City University (NJCU), eventually falling 6-5. Senior Brad Medellin (Lewisberry, Pa./Red Land) was 1-for-2 with two runs batted in and one run scored and junior Cody Krepps (Tyrone, Pa./Bellwood-Antis) with 3-for-5 with an RBI.

"We battled today," said head coach Jesse Leonard. "They had some runners on base and had some scoring opportunities and we tightened up and kept them from getting those runs in. We continued to battle and get our own guys in scoring position. We didn't always cash them in, but when we did we made the game close and fought through all nine innings. I'm proud of them for that."

Both teams threatened in the early innings with the Eagles getting runners at second and third in the bottom of the second inning before the Gothic Knights were able to get out of trouble. NJCU opened up the scoring in the top of the third when it tacked on four runs on five hits. Juniata was able to respond with one run in the bottom of the inning. Krepps ripped a single up the middle to drive home senior Joe Sforza (Pittstown, N.J./Immaculata) from third.

"[Krepps] has been hot and lets hope he stays hot," said Leonard. "He's seeing the ball well and making good adjustments at the plate putting the ball in play when he needs to. He's also providing some solid defense in the field as well."

In the bottom of the sixth inning, still looking at a 4-1 deficit, the Eagles scored two to pull within one of NJCU. Medellindrew a hit-by-pitch with the bases loaded to bring in freshman Brendan Hower (New Bloomfield, Pa./West Perry HS) followed by a wild pitch to score sophomore Chris Sinis (Altoona, Pa./Altoona Area).

NJCU responded with two runs in the top of the seventh for the 6-3 lead and, despite a leadoff walk by Sforza, the Eagles couldn't get the offense moving in the bottom of the inning. In the bottom of the eighth the offense started to heat back up for the Eagles. Junior Nick Stubbs (Hagerstown, Md./South Hagerstown) singled through the left side and then stole second base before coming around to score on a single to left by Medellin. Senior Dan Gray (Johnstown, Pa./Richland) followed up with a single to the shortstop and Medellin came around to score on an error in the same play to pull within one, 6-5.

"The seniors as a whole have been a good group throughout their careers," added Leonard. "They've continued to produce the way they did last year and in years past. Their continuing this year and Joe is a big component of that. A lot of our success is going to come from those guys so they need to continue to do what they do."

The Eagles managed to get the tying run in scoring position when Krepps singled in the bottom of the ninth, advanced to second on a ground out, and took third on a wild pitch. But a pop up to the short stop ended Juniata's comeback and the Eagles fell to 1-5 on the year. Juniata scattered 10 hits across nine innings and left 11 runners on base.

Senior pitcher Mario DeYulis (Ebensburg, Pa./Central Cambria) took the loss for Juniata, throwing 2.2 innings, giving up six hits and four runs. Freshman pitcher Wayne Hydak (Northern Versailles, Pa./Serra Catholic) tossed 3.1 innings surrendering two runs on two hits while striking out three and senior Nathan Strom (Ebensburg, Pa./Central Cambria) rounded out the hurlers for the Eagles with three complete innings, giving up just two hits, striking out two, and allowing zero runs.

"Strom battled out there the whole time and did a good job of keeping the hitters off balance. When they did put the ball in play they didn't hit it very hard and that allowed us the opportunity to make some plays. It was a good performance from him," said Leonard.

Juniata will continue its spring break trip tomorrow with a doubleheader against Franklin & Marshall College. First pitch is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.

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