WINTER HAVEN, Fla. - The Keene State College baseball team was not without chances, but could not find the big hit as they left 11 men on base and fell to Juniata College 3-1 Sunday morning at the Chain of Lakes Complex.

Records

• Keene State:  1-7
• Juniata:  7-3

How It Happened

The Eagles scored once in the first and twice in the second, and that proved to be enough as KSC stranded at least a pair four times between the second and sixth innings with only one run to show for it on Josh DeFrancisco's line drive single to center in the bottom of the fourth.  He finished his day 2-for-4 with a run batted in and a walk.  The Owls also got multiple-hit games from Joe Barter (2-3, 2B, R, BB) and Tyler Gammie (2-4).  Sam Czel had a double in the second, one of Keene State's two extra-base hits.  Juniata had 13 hits, all singles, including two each from Larry Corle, Adam Kipp, Roberto Barranca, Ryan McClain, and Joshua Gery.

The Owls trailed in the opening frame after Kipp singled and moved to second on a wild pitch before scoring on Barranca's ground ball that found its way into left.  Consecutive singles by McClain and Gery in the top of the second turned into a run when the ball was misplayed in right, and later Evan Mock's base hit increased Juniata's lead to 3-0.  Keene State had a golden opportunity to respond in the very next half inning, as Gammie singled to lead off the frame before Czel's double, putting two in scoring position with nobody out.  However, Eagles starter Jack Dovidio (2-0) then struck out the side, all looking, to keep KSC off the board.  The Owls also had runners on first and second in the third inning after a pair of errors, but could not capitalize.  Barter and Ryan Linehan's base hits provided the same two-on situation in the fourth, but this time Keene State did get a run to make it 3-1 after DeFrancisco's aforementioned line drive single to center plated Barter.  The chances continued late in the game, with the Owls bringing the tying run to the plate in three consecutive innings.  Barter doubled with one out in the sixth against new Juniata pitcher Nevin Wood and was followed eventually by Collin McKeon, who was hit by a pitch, and DeFrancisco, who walked, but a fielder's choice grounder kept the Owls scoreless.  A single by Gammie with two down in the seventh and a leadoff walk to Barter in the eighth also did not result in any KSC scoring.  Wood retired the Owls in order in the ninth and wound up allowing two hits and two walks in a four-inning save.  He struck out two.

Keene State got a seven-inning start from Jake Morris (0-1), who allowed three runs and struck out four.  Patrick McKeighan threw two hitless innings in relief.  Dovidio allowed one run and six hits while striking out six in five innings for the Eagles.

Around the Horn

• DeFrancisco has recorded a hit in all eight games so far, including a pair in each of the last two contests.  He is hitting .417 (10-for-24) on the season and has a .500 on-base percentage.
• Juniata, located in Huntingdon, Pa. and a member of the Landmark Conference, had averaged over nine runs per game in their first seven contests in Florida, a span in which they went 6-1.

Up Next

• With their original Florida schedule altered substantially, Keene State now takes on 20th-ranked Webster University (7-5) tomorrow, March 15, at 11:00 am in Auburndale.  The Gorloks went 37-13 a year ago and reached the Division III College World Series before falling to UMass-Boston and Washington and Jefferson College.  For the Owls' updated spring break schedule, click here or view below.
• Juniata concluded their trip to the Sunshine State and will head home with the remainder of their schedule up in the air.

Keene State Updated Florida Schedule

Sunday, March 15:  No. 20 Webster University, 11:00 am (Auburndale)

Monday, March 16:  Nichols College, 1:00 pm (Auburndale)

Tuesday, March 17:  Clarkson University, 10:00 am (Auburndale)

Wednesday, March 18:  Clarkson University, 10:00 am (Auburndale)

Thursday, March 19:  Keuka College, 10:00 am (DH-7) (Auburndale)

Friday, March 20:  Keuka College, 10:00 am (Auburndale)