Juniata takes Carson Long in three

By rscaife
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Updated: May 9, 2017

By Kenny Varner
MIFFLINTOWN – With a heavy week of Games scheduled for this week, the Juniata baseball team got it started in a huge way by smacking out 11 hits and taking Carson Long to just three innings in a 16-1 three inning mercy rule contest.
Deven Nealman looked strong on the mound for the Indians as he allowed only three hits and one run while striking out four Warriors en route to the victory in front of the home fans.
With Newport waiting in the wings in a very important Tri-Valley League match up Tuesday, the Indians took just a little over an hour to come out victorious.
Leading hitters for Juniata were Zack Snyder 2-for-3 RBI 2 runs, Korey Martin 2-for-2 3runs RBI, Nealman 2-for-3 2 RBI 3 runs and Chase Kepner 2-for-3 3RBI run.
” Going into today we have four games this week. I can honestly say that tonight was the first time that I ever started a game with the two captains on the bench. I wanted to rest a couple guys because we have a big game tomorrow against Newport and there is a lot to play for in that game,” said Juniata coach Nick Beward. “It’s going to decide a lot in the TVL. It will mean a lot. It was nice to get different guys in to throw. Guys who haven’t got to throw a whole lot. Deven struggled a little with his strike zone but that’s good for him to go through adversity in a varsity situation.”
In the first, Carson Long struck first playing its first and only one in the top of the first.
Daniel Leisher led off the game with a walk and advanced to second on a Juniata miscue.
Dillon Keefer’s single to left field scored Leisher, putting the Warriors up, 1-0.
But things would quickly change when the Indians put their offense to the plate.
With one out, Korey Martin led the attack with a simple single and then stole second and then went to third on a wild pitch.
Donovan Ranck’s single to third scored Martin, tying things at one.
Nealman was hot with the bat as well, roping an RBI triple to score Ranck and gave his team a lead they would never relinquish.
A fielders’ choice by Chase Kepner scored Nealman easily, ending the scoring at 3-1.
Things went a little easier for Nealman in the second, striking out two batters and allowing just a hit.
The Indians’ bats continued to sizzle in the second, scoring seven more runs to take the commanding 10-1 lead.
Juniata sent 12 batters to the plate in the inning.
Cade Kreider got the inning going, walking on his first at bat. He later scored on two consecutive wild pitches.
Zac Piper also walked and also scored on a wild pitch, upping the lead quickly to 5-2.
Zack Snyder and Martin also followed with walks of their own.
Ranck continued the rally as he reached on the second error by Carson Long.
Nealman and Kepner picked up RBI singles while Bailey gave the Indians one last hurrah smacking a double.
When the dust settled in the inning, Juniata tallied three hits, four walks and seven runs.
In the third, Juniata sent the Warriors down with no hits and no runs to set the stage for the final inning.
The Indians put the game on ice as they rallied for another six runs to make it a 16-1 Juniata victory.