Box Score
SCRANTON, Pa. – Vassar scored a pair of runs in the top of the ninth to break a five all tie and The University of Scranton baseball team (0-1) dropped a tough 7-5 decision to the Brewers (1-0) on Sunday afternoon at Volpe Field.
This marked the first of eight consecutive home games for the Royals to start the season.
Brent Shimoda knocked in the go-ahead run for the Brewers with an RBI double off the wall in left and Evan Trausch plated a run via a sac fly.
Senior southpaw Kyle Bravin (Washington Township, N.J./Westwood Regional) was charged with the two runs and took the loss for Scranton, while RHP Logan Willans tossed 2 2/3 scoreless frames of relief to earn the win for Vassar.
Vassar struck first with three runs in the first, but the Royals answered with solo blasts from junior Connor Harding (Vestal, N.Y./Vestal) and senior Brandon Peters (Peckville, Pa./Valley View) to cut the lead to 3-2 after three. An infield single, error and hit by pitch loaded the bases with one out for Scranton in the fourth before Peters delivered a two-run single into the left centerfield gap to give the hosts a 4-3 lead for the time being. Trausch gave the Brewers the lead right back with a two-run double in the top of the fifth before senior Kevin Haag (Ossining, N.Y./Ossining/Bridgton Academy (Maine)) doubled to left and scored on a two-out RBI single from freshman Justin Pinckert (Somerville, N.J./Immaculata) to knot things at five apiece in the home half of the inning.
Junior right-hander Matt Morrow (Bethlehem, Pa./Bethlehem Catholic) got the start for the Royals and allowed three runs on three hits while fanning three in three innings of work.
Sophomore left-hander Ryan Heiser (New Milford, N.J./Saint Joseph Regional) and freshman Daniel Johnson (Whitehouse Station, N.J./Immaculata) both delivered strong performances in relief for Scranton. Heiser struck out four in his two innings of relief and Johnson did not allow a hit over three shutout frames.
Harding (2-5, HR, RBI, R) and Peters (2-3, HR, 3 RBI, R) both delivered multi-hit games for head coach Mike Bartoletti's squad.
The University of Scranton baseball team will host a pair of non-conference matchups at Volpe Field next weekend against Arcadia on Saturday, Feb. 29 and DeSales on Sunday, March 1. First pitch of both games is slated for 11 a.m.
--ROYALS--
