BOX SCORE

Huntingdon, PA (March 28, 2006) – Twelve runs crossed the plate in the first two innings, but it was two in the fifth that helped propel Juniata College past Alvernia College, 10-8 Tuesday afternoon in non-conference baseball action at Langdon-Goodale Park.

            Alvernia (9-7) got two runs each from the top three players in the lineup including a 4-for-4, two run, two-RBI effort from sophomore third baseman Zach Lutz (Mohnton, PA/Governor Mifflin).  Juniata was led by Dan Kauffman (Conestoga, PA/Penn Manor), who went 2-for-4 at the plate with three RBI and two runs scored.  He also belted his team-best ninth homerun of the season.

            Juniata scored a pair of runs with two out in the fifth inning to break a 6-6 tie and scored needed insurance with single runs in the sixth and seventh.  Alvernia scored a run in the top of the sixth on a sacrifice fly from senior Eric Bonds (Lancaster, PA/Penn Manor) to pull within one, 8-7.   The Crusaders threatened for more with two one and no one out in the seventh, but Juniata starter Jason Enoch (Landisville, PA/Hempfield), in his final inning of work, set down three straight batters to strand the runners.

            Alvernia opened the scoring with a pair of runs in the first inning.  Bonds singled and stole second with one out and after a walk to Lutz, Jason Zeigler (Shillington, PA/Governor Mifflin) delivered a run-scoring single and Chris Raniere (Manalapan, NJ/St. John Vianney) lifted a sac fly to center.

            Juniata scored four times in the home half of the first with Kauffman pulling a two-run double to right to spark the scoring.  Alvernia went back up two runs in the top of the second plating four runs on three hits and a Juniata error.  The Eagles answered with two runs to tie the score in the home half of the second.  The hosts loaded the bases with two walks and single to chase Alvernia starter Artie Gehret (Sinking Spring, PA/Reading) and score on a fielder’s choice and a sacrifice fly.

            Alvernia scored its eighth run in the eighth when Tim Carroll (Bensalem, PA/Conwell-Egan) reached on strikeout wild pitch, stole second, and scored on Lutz’s second RBI single of the day.

            Sophomore Edwin Tavarez (Reading, PA/Reading), who relieved Gehret in the second, took the loss.  The Crusaders will return to the conference schedule on Friday when they host Gwynedd-Mercy College

Juniata 10, Alvernia 8