Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2
The University of Scranton baseball team picked up pair of key Landmark Conference victories over Juniata with victories of 7-5 and 10-2 on Senior Day at Connell Park on Saturday afternoon.
The Royals (13-13, 8-6) took early leads in both games, held on in the opener and rolled to the victory in the second game. The two wins move Scranton into a three-way tie for second and a game ahead of fifth place in the Landmark Conference with seven games remaining. The top four teams qualify for the playoffs.
Between games of Saturday's doubleheader, the Royals honored their four seniors – outfielder/infielder Zach Dignam (Bridgewater, N.J./Immaculata), catcher Tyler Ferretti (Hillsborough, N.J./Hillsborough), catcher Dominick Gulius (Laflin, Pa./Coughlin) and outfielder Brian Healy (Middletown, N.J./Middletown South).
Game One – Scranton 7, Juniata 5 (box score)
After Juniata (7-23, 3-11 Landmark) scored in the top of the first, Scranton came back with two in the bottom of the first, one in the second and three in the fourth for a 6-1 lead. The Eagles got four back in the fifth, but Scranton added an insurance run in the sixth en route to the win.
Sophomore center fielder Tommy Trotter (Cranford, N.J./Cranford) led the offense with two singles, a double, four runs, an RBI and a stolen base. Sophomore right fielder Chase Standen (Newtown, Pa./St. Joseph's Prep) singled twice, drove in three and scored a run, junior catcher Dan Hansen (Helena, Mont./Helena) doubled, drove in a run and scored a run, and sophomore designated hitter Anthony Caladie (Mountain Top, Pa./Crestwood) doubled and scored.
Sophomore Brian Markowski (Mountain Top, Pa./Crestwood) improved to 4-1 on the mound by working six innings, allowing five runs, two earned, on five hits and two walks while striking out six. Caladie worked a perfect seventh inning for his third save, striking out a pair.
Game Two – Scranton 10, Juniata 2 (box score)
The Royals scored in every inning and took advantage of six Juniata errors in the victory. Sophomore third baseman Patrick Mergel (Bethlehem, Pa./Bethlehem Catholic) finished 3-for-3 with a double, three RBIs and two runs, and sophomore second baseman Justin Howell (Millington, N.J./Watchung Hills) singled twice, scored twice and drove in a run.
Junior lefty Michael Haag (Ossining, N.Y./Ossining/Bridgton Academy) went the distance on the hill, allowing two runs on five hits, striking out six while walking none. He's now 3-3 on the season.
The teams will complete the series on Sunday when they meet beginning at noon at Connell Park.
--ROYALS--
