STEVENSON, Md. – The University of Scranton baseball team (1-0-1) used a big seven-run sixth inning in game one to break the game open en route to an 18-8 victory over the Stevenson Mustangs (1-3-1) in the Royals' 2022 season opener on Sunday afternoon at Sugar Field in Stevenson.

Game two was tied at four apiece in the top of the sixth inning when the contest was called due to darkness.

Game One

The Royals broke the game open with the afore-mentioned seven run sixth inning and cruised to an 18-8 victory over Stevenson in game one on Sunday.

The 18 runs are the most that Scranton has scored since an 18-2 win at Juniata on May 2, 2021.

Scranton struck first with three runs in the top of the second as a pair of walks put two men on to set the stage for an RBI single from graduate student Connor Harding (Vestal, N.Y./Vestal) and a two-run single from senior Tyler Kirsten (Wallenpaupack, Pa./Wallenpaupack Area). The Royals eventually led 6-4 after three innings as sophomore Garret Kurtz (Mahwah, N.J./Mahwah) drew a bases loaded hit by pitch and junior George Jenkins (Allentown, Pa./Parkland) plated a run via a sac fly.

In the top of the fourth, Scranton tacked on two more runs as Kurtz knocked in a run with a fielder's choice and senior Dan Crossan (Media, Pa./Archbishop Carroll) delivered an RBI single to make it an 8-4 game.

Kyle Pellegrino was charged with the loss for the Mustangs after allowing six runs on four hits to go along with seven walks and six strikeouts in 2 2/3 IP, while senior right-hander Josh Lydon (Shavertown, Pa./Dallas) made the start for the Royals and took a no-decision after giving up four runs (three earned) on four hits in 2 2/3 IP.

Crossan plated a run with a sac fly to open the scoring in the seven-run sixth and fellow senior Tanner Kohler (Mount Joy, Pa./Donegal) plated a pair with a two-run double as part of the big inning. Three batters later, Kirsten came through with a run-scoring single and Scranton opened up a 15-5 lead after 5.5 innings.

Junior right-hander Kevin Donovan (Cranford, N.J./Cranford) earned the win for Scranton in relief after allowing a run on four hits, while fanning three in 2 1 /3 IP. Senior southpaw James Gadue (West Hartford, Conn./Hall) followed Donovan with two scoreless innings and three strikeouts of his own.

In the top of the eighth, sophomore Aidan Plick (Cranford, N.J./Cranford) belted the first home run of his career with a three-run blast to right for an 18-5 lead at the time.

Crossan and Kirsten both went 2-4 in game one and each drove in multiple runs as well.

Game Two

Jenkins had stepped to the plate for Scranton to lead off the top of the sixth when the game was called due to darkness with things even at four apiece.

The Royals struck first in the nightcap with solo runs in the first and third innings as Kirsten delivered a sac fly and Plick notched an RBI single for a 2-0 lead. However, Stevenson battled back for three runs in the home half of the inning including a two-run single from Kevin Carricato that gave the hosts a 3-2 edge for the time being.

Sophomore Corey Zientek (Sugarloaf, Pa./Hazleton Area) quickly restored the Scranton lead with a go-ahead two-run blast in the top of the fourth, but the Mustangs once again answered with a run in the home half of the frame to even things at four.

On the mound for the Royals, junior right-hander Daniel Johnson (Whitehouse Station, N.J./Immaculata) gave up two runs on three hits with a walk and two strikeouts in 2 2/3 IP, while Stevenson's Matt Kossey surrendered two runs (one earned) on six hits in three innings of work.

Royals' senior left-hander Ryan Heiser (New Milford, N.J./Saint Joseph Regional) worked his way around a runner at second base with two outs in the fifth to keep things even at four.

The University of Scranton baseball team will return home to host Brockport in the home opener on Friday afternoon at Volpe Field with first pitch slated for 3:30 p.m.

--ROYALS--