HUNTINGDON, Pa. – The Elizabethtown College baseball team split with Juniata, 10-6 and 7-6, Tuesday afternoon in Landmark Conference action.

With the split, the Blue Jays and Eagles are both now 6-6 overall and in league play.

Junior James Vito finished the day 4-8 with two runs scored and four RBI. Classmate Nathaniel Barnes registered two hits while tallying two RBI and a run scored. Freshman Garrett Schwartzbeck notched two RBI and a run scored and junior Tyler McGonigle scratched out five hits, a double, four RBI, and two runs scored.

GAME ONE: ELIZABETHTOWN 10 JUNIATA 6
Down 4-1 heading into the top of the third, Etown rallied, scoring three runs. Senior Andrew Fisher led off the inning, taking first after getting hit by a pitch. He immediately stole second and third before scoring on a throwing error by the catcher.

With two outs in the inning and senior JT Thompson on second, Vito knocked a single to right field, plating Thompson and making the score 4-3. McGonigle then brought Vito around to score with a double down the right-field line for the Blue Jays' final run of the inning and tying the game at four.

After taking a one-run lead in the top of the sixth, Etown broke the game open in the top of the seventh with five runs. Barnes led the way with two RBI in the inning, while Vito, Schwartzbeck, and Fisher each had one, making the score 10-4.
The Eagles managed to get two runs back, but that is as close as they would get as the Blue Jays took game one 10-6.

Senior Joseph Sarich started game one, allowing four unearned runs on one hit and striking out two in 1 1/3 innings of work for the no-decision. Senior Kelly Holdren (3-0) earned the win in relief, pitching 4 1/3 innings of one-hit ball, striking out four, and walking one.

Senior Julius Thomas (1-2) took the loss for the home team, allowing five runs (one earned), on eight hits and striking out two.

GAME TWO: JUNIATA 7 ELIZABETHTOWN 6

Down 7-0, Etown began to rally in the top of the fifth. Junior Lucas Carr led off the inning with a pinch-hit double down the right-field line. Schwartzbeck then came on as a pinch-runner and moved to third after Barnes grounded out to second. Sophomore Justin Wetzel then knocked a sacrifice fly to right field for the Blue Jays' first run of the game.

After an RBI single by McGonigle made it 7-2 after six innings, the Etown bats came alive in the top of the seventh. The Blue Jays quickly loaded the bases after back-to-back walks by junior Eamon McCoubrey and Wetzel and then a single by Fisher. After a strikeout, Thompson reached first on an error, plating McCoubrey and making the score 7-2.

Juniata managed to get the second out before Etown once again loaded the bases bringing McGonigle to the plate. The junior slapped a single to right field, scoring two and cutting the Eagle advantage to one (7-6). The home team however avoided dropping both games of the doubleheader, recording the final and securing the win.

Sophomore Nicholas Ortega (0-2) pitched 1 2/3 innings, allowing four earned runs on six hits and striking out one.

Sophomore Chase Alessandroni (2-1) earned his second win of the season, allowing two runs on seven hits and striking out three.

Etown returns home for the start of a weekend series against Catholic on Saturday, April 17. First pitch of the doubleheader is set for 12:30 p.m.  Opening serve is set for 12 p.m. For the Elizabethtown College Spectator Policy, please CLICK HERE.