By: Frank Maira, Assistant Director of Athletics/Sports Information Director
MONT ALTO, Pa. – The Penn State Mont Alto baseball team had a quick turnaround playing in its second-straight nine-inning contest with the Nittany Lions dropping a 14-8 game on Tuesday to Juniata College.
The Eagles (10-19) jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first, but Mont Alto responded with two runs of its own in the bottom half of the inning. Colby Black (Shippensburg, Pa. / Big Spring) was hit by a pitch and scored when Hunter Martin (Hagerstown, Md. / North Hagerstown) reached on an error. Nick Jacoby (Shippensburg, Pa. / Shippensburg) made it 2-1 when he was plated on a passed ball.
Juniata chased PSUMA starter Paul Steiger (Waynesboro, Pa. / Waynesboro Area) in the third inning as he gave up seven runs on six hits. The Eagles built an 8-2 lead and added two more runs in the fourth inning when Sam Craig doubled to left field. They made it 11-2, before Mont Alto scored again on a Bryce Kendall (Chambersburg, Pa. / Chambersburg Area) RBI single. The Lions scored again within the eighth inning on another single this time off of the bat of freshman Chayse Fisher (Mercersburg, Pa. / James Buchanan).
The Eagles added two more insurance runs in the top of the ninth. Mont Alto's bats came alive within the final frame scoring four runs on three hits including a two-run homer from Jeremiah Younker (Hagerstown, Md. / Williamsport). The rally continued with a Chance McClure (Chambersburg, Pa. / Chambersburg Area) RBI single that was lined to right field and the final run was scored when Black hit into a fielder's choice.
Younker finished 2-for-3 at the plate as the Lions managed nine hits. Mont Alto (21-15, 9-3) returns to PSUAC action on Friday, April 19 when they host PSU Fayette at 2 p.m.