SCRANTON, Pa. -- The University of Scranton baseball team banged out 12 hits while six pitchers combined on a seven-hitter as the Royals defeated Albright, 8-1, on Sunday afternoon at Volpe Field.

Sophomore outfielder Corey Zientek (Sugarloaf, Pa./Hazelton Area), sophomore infielder Jack Heineman (Abington, Pa./LaSalle College H.S.) and junior infielder Braden Breithaupt (Canadensis, Pa./Stroudsburg) had two hits apiece to lead the offensive attack.

Zientek, who drove in a run, and Breithaupt both doubled and senior infielder Tyler Kirsten (Wallenpaupack, Pa./Wallenpaupack Area) had a two-run triple in a five-run bottom of the fifth inning that broke open what had been a 2-1 game.

Graduate student outfielder Connor Harding (Vestal, N.Y./Vestal) and senior infielder Dan Crossan (Media, Pa./Archbishop Carroll) had RBI singles, and freshman infielder Jake Elston (New Milford, Conn./Canterbury School) added an RBI sac fly for Scranton (3-1-1).

Freshman Jimmy Murray (Hawthorne, N.Y./Westlake) started on the mound and worked four scoreless innings in his first career start, allowing three hits and two walks while striking out three. Five Royals relievers combined to allow just one run on four hits, a walk and four strikeouts the rest of the way. Junior righty Hunter Ralston (Duryea, Pa./Pittston Area) was impressive in his inning of work, needing just nine pitches to work a perfect seventh inning while striking out two.

The Royals will return to action when they open up their spring break trip on Saturday, March 13, against New England College at 4 p.m. in Myrtle Beach, S.C.

--ROYALS--