Box Score
SCRANTON, Pa. – Junior Connor Harding (Vestal, N.Y./Vestal) had a three-hit day and three relievers combined to toss 4 2/3 shutout innings as The University of Scranton baseball team (2-4) topped The College at Brockport (2-5) by a score of 6-1 on Sunday afternoon at Volpe Field in Scranton.
Brockport led 1-0 with two runners on and one away in the top of the fifth when senior RHP Sam Flannery (Hop Bottom, Pa./Mountain View) came on in relief and got a foul out and a fly out to get out of the jam.
Flannery came on in relief of starter Matt Morrow (Bethlehem, Pa./Bethlehem Catholic) who turned in a solid effort as the junior allowed one run and fanned a pair in 4 1/3 innings of work in his second start of the season.
The Royals immediately responded in the home half of the inning as freshman George Jenkins (Allentown, Pa./Parkland) drew a leadoff walk, Harding singled and stole second to put runners at second and third with nobody out for junior Kevin Johnson (Whitehouse Station, N.J./Hunterdon Central) who delivered a two-run double to give the hosts the lead. Senior Kevin Haag (Ossining, N.Y./Ossining/Bridgton Academy (Maine)) followed with an RBI double of his own to extend the lead to 3-1.
Scranton tacked on solo runs in each of the next three frames as Harding doubled home Jenkins in the sixth, senior Brandon Peters (Peckville, Pa./Valley View) plated a run with an RBI single in the seventh and sophomore Chris Wagner (Westfield, N.J./Westfield) knocked in a run with an RBI groundout to make it a 6-1 game.
Flannery (0.2 IP, H) who got the win to improve to 1-0 on the year, sophomore left-hander Ryan Heiser (New Milford, N.J./Saint Joseph Regional) and freshman right-hander Braden Breithaupt (Canadensis, Pa./Stroudsburg) combined for the scoreless outings from the Royals bullpen. Heiser gave up one hit and struck out two over three shutout innings, while Breithaupt fired a scoreless ninth for Scranton.
RHP Trevor McCarthy (0-2) was dealt the loss for the Golden Eagles after allowing four runs on four hits in two innings of work.
Harding (3-4, 2B, RBI, SB, R), Haag (2-3, 2B, RBI) and Peters (2-4, RBI) registered multi-hit games for the Royals. Jenkins also reached base three times, stole a base and scored three runs on the afternoon.
Harding is 12-24 (.500) on the season thus far and has turned in five multi-hit performances.
The University of Scranton baseball team closes out the season-opening homestand when SUNY New Paltz comes to town on Wednesday, March 11. First pitch at Volpe Field is slated for 4 p.m.
--ROYALS--
