Sentinel photo by JEFF SHOMO Juniata’s Quentin Houtz (21) scores on the double by teammate Cam Bargo against Saint Joseph's on Wednesday.

By Kenny Varner

Sports correspondent

STATE COLLEGE — The Juniata baseball team headed to Centre County Wednesday afternoon as they took on a scrappy St. Joseph’s Catholic Academy team in a mid-week Tri-Valley League matchup.

Juniata went to hurler Jack Greenholt while the WolfPack retaliated with Joey Gearhart.

This one was not for the faint of heart as it would be a nail-biting contest as the WolfPack would break a 2-2 tie in the sixth inning to capture the 3-2 victory.

“We’re right there in every game. I mean, a lot of run, one run games,” said Juniata coach Aaron Geedey. “We left a couple runners on base. A couple little mental mistakes, but overall, the pitchers threw good. Our team played well. We played a good 5 1/2 innings.”

The Indians went 1-2-3 in the bottom of the first to start off the contest.

Offensively, the Wolfpack threatened in the first when CJ Grove blasted a double and teammate Caleb Frey posted a sacrifice fly into right field.

However, the Indians were able to shut it down without any damage.

With one out in the top of the second, Quentin Houtz walked and later survived a pickoff attempt, moving to second.

Cam Brago blasted a shot into centerfield, scoring Houtz who was running on the play. Bargo was replaced on the base paths by Jason Condo. Condo stole third. Butterworth that would be all the Juniata hitters would be able to get in the inning, leading 1-0.

In the bottom of the inning, St. Joseph’s tried to even things up.

With one out will Balazik hit a line shot into left field. He moved into scoring position when he stole second.

But the Indians defense took over as Greenholt struck out one and forced a fly out to end the inning.

Juniata got another runner on base in third.

With one out, leadoff hitter Daylyn Kennedy walked. Despite numerous pickoff attempted by Gearhart, Kennedy still stole second cleanly.

Drew Geedey’s groundout to first moved Kennedy just steps away from scoring. But when the inning concluded the score remained 1-0 going into the bottom of the third.

Gearhart tallied five strikeouts after three trips to the mound.

Grove tried to start a 2-out rally. Rally they did. Grove walked in the third. Isiah Crispin came into replace

He scored on a single by Caleb Foy, knotting things at one.

Houtz reached base again in the fourth. The centerfielder smoked a grounder just off the glove of the second baseman. He moved up to second on a fielder’s choice and scored when Bryce Harlon went to right field.

Garrett Imes kept the inning going with a walk, putting runners on first and second.

Taylor Gigante’s double to the gap between centerfield and right was the only blemish in the fourth as the Indians continued to hold onto the lead.

Carson Nipple added a hit to the Juniata scorebook in the fifth but could not score.

The WolfPack started the fifth strong when Max Jennings roped a shot into left. He moved up to second on a balk.

Grove moved Jennings over to third as he hit a diving blast into shallow center, putting runners on the corners with only one out.

Foy followed with a walk to load the bases. Foy was replaced by Jayden Stamm.

Haden Lingle tied the game with a sacrifice blast to right. Jennings scored but Miller was gunned down at third to end the inning tied at two.

Juniata again threatened but could not manage anything in the sixth despite an infield single by Auker.

In the bottom of the sixth, Gearhart helped his cause with a lead-off walk. Will Balazik singled past the third baseman, putting runners on first and second.

Ben Ranio blasted a shot that would drop into right field, scoring Gearhart.

Juniata refused to give up as Daylyn Kennedy kept the game alive, roping a two-out double. But the Wolfpack refused to give up the lead and got the last out to ice the game.

Juniata is back in action Friday at home at Halifax.

St. Joseph’s Catholic Academy 3, Juniata 2

JUN 010 100 0- 2 6 2

STJ 001 011 x – 3 6 1

WP: Joey Gearhart

LP: Quentin Houtz

Multiple hitters: Jun – None. STJ – CJ Grove 2-for-2 run, Will Balasik 2-for-3.

HR: Jun – None. STJ – None.

3B: Jun – None. STJ – None.

2B: Jun – Cam Bargo . STJ – Taylor Gigante .