Kevin Johnson

SCRANTON, Pa. – SUNY New Paltz scored the go-ahead run in the top of the ninth to break a three-all tie and The University of Scranton baseball team (2-5) dropped a 4-3 decision to the Hawks (2-2) on Wednesday afternoon at Volpe Field in Scranton.

Michael Boccarossa delivered the go-ahead RBI single for the Hawks in the top of the ninth. The Royals threatened with runners at first and second in nobody out in the home half of the frame, but Justin Halper got a strikeout and a pair of groundouts to close things out for SUNY New Paltz.

Scranton had tied the game at three apiece in the bottom of the eighth after sophomore Kyler McAllister (Jefferson Township, Pa./Scranton Prep) reached on an error, pinch-runner Tanner Kohler (Mount Joy, Pa./Donegal) advanced to third on a single from Tyler Kirsten (Wallenpaupack, Pa./Wallenpaupack Area) and scored on a wild pitch.

Freshman right-hander Daniel Johnson (Whitehouse Station, N.J./Immaculata) was dealt the tough luck loss for the Royals and drops to 0-2 on the year. Halper came on in relief of Bobby Ramsey and notched his first save of the year for New Paltz.

New Paltz struck first with a run in the top of the third, but the Royals quickly responded in the bottom of the inning as a single and a walk put two men on before sophomore Chris Wagner (Westfield, N.J./Westfield) plated both runners with a two-run double. The Hawks tied the game at two with a run in the top of the fifth and took a 3-2 lead for the time being with a run in the sixth.

Junior Kevin Johnson (Whitehouse Station, N.J./Hunterdon Central) led Scranton offensively with a 3-4 day, two stolen bases and a run scored and classmate Connor Harding added two hits of his own. Harding has now registered at least two hits in six of his seven games on the season.

Freshman right-hander Braden Breithaupt (Canadensis, Pa./Stroudsburg) and sophomore right-hander Josh Lydon (Shavertown, Pa./Dallas) both tossed scoreless innings of relief for the Royals. Junior southpaw Alex DeRosa (Hillsdale, N.J./Pascack Valley) did not allow an earned run in two innings of work and freshman righty Caleb Gross (Bethlehem, Pa./Liberty) struck out a pair in his outing.

--ROYALS--