|
|
| Eric
Pizzico |
Ross
Danzig |
|
|
| Tim
LeCompte |
Matt
Maghini |
Box score (game one)
Box score (game two)
Photo gallery (courtesy of Dan
Ceccacci)
The University of Scranton baseball team suffered an emotional
4-3 loss in the opener of its doubleheader against Drew University
and couldn't recover in the second game, losing 5-2, in
Landmark Conference action at Connell Park.
The Royals (18-14, 7-6) did not hold a lead at any point in
either game as they lost their third straight and fifth out of the
last sixth in conference play. Drew improved to 15-18 overall and
6-8 in Landmark play.
Drew jumped out to a 2-0 lead after two innings in the opener,
but Scranton battled back with single runs in the third and fourth
innings. Sophomore first baseman Ross
Danzig (Clarks Green, Pa./Abington Heights/Blair Academy,
N.J.) had an RBI double in the third inning and junior
designated hitter Eric
Pizzico (Royersford, Pa./Spring Ford) had a solo homer
in the fourth.
Drew pulled back ahead with a run in the top of the sixth, but
Scranton tied it up in the bottom half on an RBI infield single by
senior catcher Michael Amaturo (Rye, N.Y./Rye).
The game stayed tied at 3 into the eighth when a Drew runner
scored all the way from second on a two-out, infield single for the
game-winning run. Senior righty Pat Rock (Cranston, R.I./Providence
Country Day) got the win for the Rangers with three shutout innings
of relief.
Pizzico finished with a double, homer, two runs and an RBI while
senior shortstop Tim
LeCompte (Philadelphia, Pa./Roman Catholic) had a pair
of doubles for Scranton.
In the second game, Drew again scored first with a run to open
the game, but Scranton tied it on an RBI sac fly from senior right
fielder Michael Gaeta (Cranford, N.J./Cranford) in the
bottom of the first.
But the Rangers took control with three runs in the third, with
the big blow coming on a two-out, two-run triple by sophomore
outfielder Al Krause (Secaucus, N.J./Secaucus).
Scranton answered with a run in the bottom of the third on
Gaeta's RBI ground out, cutting the Drew lead to 4-2. But the
Rangers got that run back in the top of the fourth and shut down
the Royals from there. Freshman righty Drew Blanco (Edison,
N.J./John P. Stevens) went the distance, allowing two runs on four
hits and two walks while striking out two.
Sophomore second baseman Matt
Maghini (Madison, Conn./Daniel Hand) had two of
Scranton's four hits while LeCompte and sophomore left
fielder Michael Umerich (Clarks Summit, Pa./Abington
Heights) each singled and scored a run.
The two teams will complete the series when they play the final
game on Sunday starting at noon at Connell Park. The Royals will
honor their seven seniors prior to first
pitch.
--ROYALS--
