Kevin Johnson	Thomas Plunkett

SELINSGROVE, Pa. – Freshman right-hander Thomas Plunkett (Mamaroneck, N.Y./Mamaroneck) threw a two-hit shutout in his first career start and senior Kevin Johnson (Whitehouse Station, N.J./Hunterdon Central) hit a grand slam in game two as The University of Scranton baseball team (11-7, 11-7 Landmark) split a doubleheader with the Susquehanna River Hawks (7-8, 7-5 Landmark) on Monday afternoon at Bollinger Field in Selinsgrove.

Scranton won game two by a score of 8-0 after the River Hawks took game one, 7-1.

The Royals sit atop the Landmark Conference standings along with Juniata (10-6) and the two teams will do battle in a four-game series this weekend.

Game One

Susquehanna broke open what was a two-run game with four runs in the bottom of the fifth and picked up the 7-1 victory in game one.

Kris Morrow plated four runs in the game for the River Hawks including a two-run double in the first and a two-run single in the afore-mentioned fifth inning.

Scranton scored in the top of the first inning as freshman Corey Zientek (Sugarloaf, Pa./Hazleton Area) tripled into the right centerfield gap and scampered home on a wild pitch to take an early 1-0 lead before the River Hawks answered.

On the mound, junior left-hander James Gadue (West Hartford, Conn./Hall) surrendered six runs on four hits over 4 2/3 IP and was dealt the loss for the Royals. Aidan Martin gave up the one run on three hits in a complete game effort for Susquehanna.

Junior right-hander Mason Boettger (Old Forge, Pa./Old Forge) registered a scoreless inning of relief for head coach Mike Bartoletti's squad.

Game Two

Making his second appearance of the season and first career start, Plunkett was the story of game two in the Royals' 8-0 victory.

The freshman right-hander allowed just two hits to go along with two walks and four strikeouts in a seven inning complete game shutout. Plunkett is the second Scranton pitcher to toss a complete game shutout this season after sophomore Daniel Johnson (Whitehouse Station, N.J./Immaculata) accomplished the feat with a one-hitter on April 3 at Drew.

Plunkett's run support came early in game two as the Royals put six on the board in the first inning. Freshman John Zarnowski (East Brunswick, N.J./St. Joseph's) delivered an RBI single and three batters later, Kevin Johnson crushed an offering over the left centerfield wall to make it a 6-0 game.

Landon Ness was tagged with the loss for the River Hawks after giving up six runs (four earned) on four hits in 1/3 of an inning.

Scranton tacked on a run in the third as Zientek was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to plate Johnson and a wild pitch with the bases loaded in the seventh inning brought home the eighth and final run of the day.

Johnson (2-2, HR, 4 RBI, 2 R), junior Tyler Kirsten (Wallenpaupack, Pa./Wallenpaupack Area) who was 2-4 with a double and Zarnowski (2-4, RBI, R) all had multi-hit games in the nightcap for the Royals.

The four RBI for Johnson matched a career-high, having previously been set on April 17, 2019 at Widener. 

The University of Scranton baseball team will host Juniata in a doubleheader to open the four-game series between the two teams on Saturday afternoon at Volpe Field. Both games will be seven inning contests and first pitch of game one is slated for 12:30 p.m.

--ROYALS--