MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – The University of Scranton baseball team (4-4) rallied for a 5-3 victory in the nightcap and salvaged a split of a doubleheader with the Worcester State Lancers (2-1) on Saturday night in Myrtle Beach.

The game two victory came after Scranton had dropped a 4-0 decision in the opener.

Worcester State 4, Scranton 0

Alex Sorenti-Burns hit a pair of home runs in the contest for the Lancers and his two-run shot in the sixth opened up a 4-0 lead at the time.

Worcester State had previously added solo runs in the second and fourth innings.

The Royals had several opportunities throughout the contest and nearly clawed their way back into the game, but fell short as 10 baserunners were stranded.

Junior southpaw Matthew Moreira (Union, N.J./Saint Peter's Prep) got the start for the Royals and surrendered three runs on two hits to go along with three walks and five strikeouts over 5 1/3 IP.

Cole Glassburn recorded the win for the Lancers as he scattered five hits while walking four and fanning seven in 5 1/3 IP.

Freshman right-hander Aidan Rumain (Martinsville, N.J./Immaculata) struck out a pair in a scoreless inning of relief in his collegiate debut.

Scranton 5, Worcester State 3

Scranton scored all five runs in the top of the fifth and got strong relief outings from both senior lefty Jason Carpenter (Scranton, Pa./Scranton) and graduate student lefty Ryan Heiser (New Milford, N.J./Saint Joseph Regional) to hold on for the 5-3 win.

Trailing 2-0 entering the fifth, a double, walk and single loaded the bases with nobody out before sophomore Jake Elston (New Milford, Conn./Canterbury School) drew a bases-loaded walk, freshman Conor Campbell (Wilmington, Del./Salesianum) knocked in a run with a flyout and senior Nick Reposa (Factoryville, Pa./Tunkhannock) delivered the go-ahead RBI single. A pair of Lancer errors later in the inning also allowed two more runs to score.

Sorenti-Burns cut the lead to 5-3 with an RBI single in the home half of the fifth, but Worcester State was unable to get any closer.

Senior right-hander Hunter Ralston (Duryea, Pa./Pittston Area) got the win for the Royals as he gave up three runs on six hits and fanned one over 4 2/3 IP. Carpenter (1.0 IP, H, BB, K) and Heiser (1.1 IP, BB, 3 K) then combined to shut the door in relief as Heiser struck out three of the five batters he faced to notch his first save of the season.

Reposa was 2-3 with a double, RBI and run scored in the victory, while Elston drove in a run, stole a base and scored a run.

The Royals will take on Plattsburgh State on Sunday afternoon in Myrtle Beach with first pitch slated for 3 p.m.

--ROYALS--