|
|
| Bobby Della
Polla |
Michael
Gaeta |
|
|
| Ross
Danzig |
Tim
LeCompte |
NOTE: Updates with Scranton facing Moravian on
Sunday at 12:30 p.m.
Box score
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The University of Scranton baseball
team got off to a strong start in the Landmark Conference playoffs
on Saturday, defeating top-seeded Catholic University, 5-4, in a
first-round game at Talbot Field on the campus of Catholic
University.
The victory puts the Royals (22-18) in the winners'
bracket where they will play third-seeded Moravian – winner
of Saturday's second game, 9-4, over second-seeded Merchant
Marine Academy – on Sunday at 12:30 p.m.
Scranton scored three times in the top of the first and
maintained that three-run lead at 5-2 heading into the ninth. But
Catholic (25-16) rallied to score twice in the bottom of the ninth
and had the bases loaded with two outs. But Royals starter
Bobby Della Polla (Havertown, Pa./St.
Joseph's Preparatory) finished the job, getting a
weak ground ball to second base to end the game and put the Royals
in the winners' bracket for the first time in three Landmark
Conference playoff appearances.
Della Polla allowed four runs, all earned, on six hits and four
walks while striking out 11. He also hit a batter while picking up
his seventh win of the season and 16th of his career. He is also
one strikeout shy of 200 for his career.
Scranton took control right away, scoring three times in the
first inning with the aid of a pair of Catholic errors. Leadoff
hitter Michael Umerich (Clarks Summit, Pa./Abington
Heights) was hit by a pitch, then the Cardinals made a
throwing error on a bunt attempt to put runners on the corners with
nobody out. Sophomore first baseman Ross
Danzig (Clarks Summit, Pa./Abington Heights/Blair Academy,
N.J.) then hit a sharp grounder to third, but the
Cardinals' third baseman hesitated making a throw and Danzig
was safe to load the bases.
Junior center fielder Michael Gaeta (Cranford, N.J./Cranford) then
hit a ground ball to short, but the throw on the double play turn
sailed past the first baseman and two runners scored to put the
Royals on the board. A single by senior shortstop Tim
LeCompte (Philadelphia, Pa./Roman Catholic) followed
by a ground out put runners on second and third with two outs.
Gaeta then scored on a wild pitch to put Scranton up,
3-0.
The Cardinals got a run back in the second on a solo homer by
senior catcher Mark Kalokaitis (Hamilton, N.J./Steinert).
The teams then traded runs in the fifth. Gaeta's RBI
fielder's choice grounder put Scranton up, 4-1, but the
Cardinals cut the lead to two on an RBI ground out by junior right
fielder Michael Parco (Clarksville, Md./River Hill).
The Royals added an insurance run in the seventh that would turn
out to be the difference. With two outs and nobody on base, Gaeta
was hit by a pitch, then moved all the way to third on consecutive
wild pitches. LeCompte then struck out on all in the dirt, but beat
the throw to first as Gaeta came across to score for a 5-2
lead.
LeCompte finished with two hits and an RBI, Danzig had two hits
and scored a run, and Gaeta had three RBIs in the victory.
Sophomore second baseman Matt
Maghini (Madison, Conn./Daniel Hand) added a double
and scored twice.
The victory was Scranton's fourth straight over Catholic
after sweeping the regular season three-game series last
weekend.
In two previous appearances in the Landmark Conference playoffs
in 2008 and 2011, the Royals lost their first-round game on the
opening day before rallying to win twice the next day to reach the
championship. Needing to win twice at that point, they lost in the
first game both years.
A win in Sunday's game at 12:30 p.m. would put the Royals
into Monday's championship. A loss would bump them to a
losers' bracket game on Sunday at 4 p.m.
--ROYALS--
