|
|
| Corey
Gorman |
Michael
Gaeta |
Box score
Photo gallery (courtesy of Emma
Black)
The University of Scranton baseball team could not come up with
the big hit late in the game on Sunday and eventually lost to Drew
University, 3-2, in 10 innings in a Landmark Conference game at
Connell Park.
The loss drops the Royals to 18-16 overall and 7-8 in the
Landmark Conference and tied for fourth with Drew, which has the
tiebreaker over the Royals after sweeping the weekend series. Drew
is now 16-18 and 7-8 in the conference.
Senior lefty Corey
Gorman (Laflin, Pa./Coughlin) again pitched a gem, but
received a no-decision. He allowed just two runs on eight hits and
a walk while striking out 10 in nine innings. It was his fourth
straight game of 10-or-more strikeouts and the second straight game
in which he worked at least eight innings and allowed only two
runs. He has allowed more than three earned runs only twice in
eight starts this season.
The Rangers jumped ahead with a run in the top of the third
inning, but Scranton got that run right back in the bottom half on
an RBI single by senior shortstop Tim
LeCompte (Philadelphia, Pa./Roman Catholic).
The game stayed tied until the sixth when Drew pushed a run
across on a suicide squeeze bunt by freshman third baseman Mike
Klinger (Franklin Park, N.J./Rutgers Prep).
Scranton rallied to tie the game at 2 in the bottom of the
eighth when sophomore left fielder Michael Umerich (Clarks Summit, Pa./Abington
Heights) led off with a single and moved to second on a
passed ball. After a sacrifice bunt by LeCompte moved Umerich to
third, sophomore first baseman Ross
Danzig (Clarks Green, Pa./Abington Heights/Blair Academy,
N.J.) delivered a sacrifice fly that plated Umerich.
After Gorman stopped the Rangers in the ninth, the Royals had a
chance to win it in the bottom of the ninth. Freshman Ray
Grapsy (Covington Township, Pa./North Pocono) led off
with a single, but pinch runner Anthony Pilovsky was erased on a
fielder's choice. One out later, Umerich singled to put
runners on first and second with two outs, but Drew senior reliever
Pat Rock (Cranston, R.I./Providence Country Day) coaxed an
inning-ending ground ball.
The Rangers then took the lead in the top of the 10th when
junior designated hitter Mark Alessio (Nutley, N.J./Paramus
Catholic) delivered an RBI sac fly that scored sophomore shortstop
Steve Kowalski (Robbinsville, N.J./Robbinsville), who had led off
with a single.
Rock then set the Royals down in order in the bottom of the 10th
to complete the sweep. Rock earned his second win of the series
after also earning an extra-inning victory in the opener on
Saturday, 4-3 in eight innings.
Umerich, LeCompte and junior outfielder Michael Gaeta (Cranford, N.J./Cranford), who
doubled, each had two hits for the Royals. Gaeta's second hit
of the game was the 100th of his career. He joins LeCompte, who
surpassed the milestone earlier this season, in the 100-hit
club.
Scranton will return to action on Wednesday, April 24, when it
travels to Center Valley, Pa. to face DeSales at 4
p.m.
--ROYALS--
