|
|
| Bobby Della
Polla |
Corey
Gorman |
|
|
| Ray
Grapsy |
Eric
Pizzico |
Box score (game one)
Box score (game two)
Senior left-handers Bobby Della Polla (Havertown, Pa./St. Joseph's
Preparatory) and Corey
Gorman (Laflin, Pa./Coughlin) tossed complete games to
lead The University of Scranton baseball team to a doubleheader
sweep against Catholic University, 5-4 and 7-4, on Saturday
afternoon at Connell Park.
The victories improve Scranton to 20-17 overall and 9-8 in the
conference. The Royals are tied for third with Moravian with one
game to go, one game ahead of fifth place Drew. A Scranton win or a
Drew loss against Moravian on Sunday will put the Royals in next
weekend's Landmark Conference playoffs.
Della Polla earned his sixth win and fourth complete game of the
season by allowing four runs, one earned, on five hits and a walk
while striking out six. He now has 15 career wins and is 12
strikeouts shy of 200 for his career.
Catholic (25-14, 11-6 Landmark) scored first with a run in the
top of the second, but Scranton answered with two in the bottom
half to take a 2-1 lead. Senior shortstop Tim
LeCompte (Philadelphia, Pa./Roman Catholic) and
freshman outfielder Ray Grapsy
(Covington Township, Pa./North Pocono) started the inning
with singles and LeCompte then stole third and eventually scored on
an error. Sophomore outfielder Michael Umerich (Clarks Summit, Pa./Abington
Heights) added an RBI sac fly to put Scranton ahead.
The Royals then scored three times in the third to take a 5-1
advantage. Junior outfielder Michael Gaeta (Cranford, N.J./Cranford) had an
RBI single and Grapsy delivered the big blow, a two-run double.
The Cardinals fought back with three unearned runs in the fifth,
but Della Polla got a big strikeout to end the inning and did not
allow a hit in the final two innings to seal the victory.
Grapsy finished with two hits and two RBIs, and LeCompte had two
hits and scored twice.
In the second game, Gorman allowed four runs on nine hits and
two walks while striking out eight. It was his third win and third
complete game of the year and he now has 76 strikeouts in 57 2/3
innings. For his career, Gorman has 15 wins and 225 strikeouts.
The Royals trailed, 3-0, in the middle of the fourth inning
after Catholic scored twice in the fourth. But the Royals found
their offensive stride again with a four-run fourth inning to take
the lead. Senior catcher Michael Amaturo (Rye, N.Y./Rye), junior
designated hitter Eric
Pizzico (Royersford, Pa./Spring Ford), junior third
baseman Mike Trabulsi (Malverne, N.Y./Chaminade) and
Umerich each had RBI singles in the inning.
Scranton added three more runs in the fifth when Pizzico
delivered a two-run single and Grapsy scored at the end of the play
on a throwing error by the Cardinals. Catholic added a run in the
seventh, but Gorman got a game-ending strikeout with the bases
loaded.
Pizzico finished the second game with two hits, three RBIs and a
run scored, Gaeta singled, doubled and scored twice, and Trabulsi
had two hits and an RBI.
Scranton has now won 20 or more games in three straight seasons,
the first time the Royals have accomplished that feat in school
history.
The two teams will complete the series when they play the final
game on Sunday, beginning at 11 a.m. at Connell
Park.
--ROYALS--
