Junker Handles Hot Bat For AEC Baseball Weekly Honor Roll Appearance
Lancaster, Pa. - (4/3/2023) - Gwynedd Mercy University freshman catcher/outfielder Sam Junker (Ambler, Pa.) earned an appearance on the Atlantic East Conference (AEC) Baseball Weekly Honor Roll with an 11-for-17 (.647) week that included a 5-for-6 performance in a 23-5 win at Clarks Summit University and a 6-for-11 three-game set against the defending league champions, Immaculata University.
Gwynedd Mercy University (11-10, 1-5) already scored nine runs in the fifth inning and led Clarks Summit University (4-12) by a 23-3 margin when senior second baseman Jake Martell (Levittown, Pa.) recorded his 100th hit on his second at-bat of the frame. After trailing 3-2 at the end of the first inning, the Griffins recovered with four runs in the second inning (6-3), three in the third (9-3), five in the fourth (14-3), and nine in the fifth (23-3). The Defenders trimmed the final to 23-5 with a pair of runs in the bottom of the seventh inning, but the game was called soon after. Junker produced 4 runs and four runs-batted-in (RBI) with his five hits; he doubled in his first two at-bats, knocking a run in with the latter. He also singled in a run in the third inning, singled down the line in the fourth, and singled two runs home in his first at-bat of the fifth inning.
Working around Saturday showers, Gwynedd Mercy University and Immaculata University (12-7, 3-0) opened their AEC series with a Friday doubleheader and concluded it with a Sunday single. The Mighty Macs took all three contests from the Griffins, sweeping the twin bill 10-5 and 9-1 in seven innings, before outlasting a Gwynedd Mercy University rally in a 3-2 finale. Junker was 3-for-4 with a run-batted-in (RBI) in game one; he singled in the fourth, sixth, and seventh innings. The last brought home the third Griffin run of the game. In game two, he singled in the first and third innings. And in game three, he drew a walk with two out in the first inning, singled to lead off the fourth inning, and reached in the fifth inning on a Mighty Mac error at short.
Gwynedd Mercy University briefly breaks from AEC play tomorrow, Tuesday, April 4, when they visit Rowan University for a 3:30 p.m. contest.
