MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – The University of Scranton softball team (4-4) rallied for five runs in the sixth and knocked off previously unbeaten Spalding (7-1) in an 8-7 victory over the Golden Eagles to highlight Day Three of the team's Spring Break trip to Myrtle Beach.

Scranton began the day with a 6-3 setback against Utica.

Utica 6, Scranton 3

A four-run first for Utica proved to be too much to overcome as the Royals dropped a 6-3 decision to the Pioneers in their first game of the day on Tuesday.

Scranton loaded the bases with nobody out in the top of the first via two singles and an error and senior Lauren Cawley (Duryea, Pa./Scranton Prep) knocked in a pair with a two-run single for an early 2-0 lead. However, Utica quickly responded with four runs in the home half as three straight singles got things started and Cassidy Doiron provided the big blow in the inning with a two-run single of her own.

The Pioneers were able to extend the lead in the late stages with a run in the fifth and both teams then scored solo runs in the sixth as freshman Emmie Feltenberger (Pottstown, Pa./Owen J. Roberts) led off with a triple for the Royals and scored on an RBI single from sophomore Kylie Rochford (Tinton Falls, N.J./Red Bank Catholic) that cut the lead to 5-3 for the time being.

Freshman Carley Noble (Allentown, N.J./Allentown) made her first career start in the circle for Scranton and surrendered six runs (five earned) on eight hits to go along with a walk and four strikeouts in 6.0 IP.

Maggie Habernig got the win for Utica after allowing two runs (one earned) on eight hits over five innings of work. Kylie Murray then allowed one run on two hits over the final two hits for the save.

Feltenberger, Rochford and junior Sarah Stepnowski (Monroe Twp., N.J./Monroe) all tallied two hits apiece for the Royals.

Scranton 8, Spalding 7

The Royals trailed 6-3 before taking the lead for good with a five-run sixth inning and holding on for the 8-7 victory.

In the afore-mentioned sixth, Scranton trailed 6-5 when junior Jessica Stadler (Monmouth Junction, N.J./South Brunswick) drew a bases-loaded walk to tie the game and a wild pitch eventually allowed Rochford to scamper home as the go-ahead run.

Spalding got a run back in the home half of the sixth that cut the lead to 8-7, but sophomore Hannah Keane (Randolph, N.J./Randolph) got a strikeout and a groundout to escape a bases loaded one out jam with the lead still intact.

Keane allowed two earned runs on five hits and fanned three over three innings of relief to record her first win of the season.

Bella Velez was tagged with the loss for the Golden Eagles after giving up seven runs (five earned) on 12 hits in 5 1/3 IP.

The Royals struck first in the nightcap with a pair of runs in the top of the second behind an RBI triple from Cawley who later scored on an RBI groundout from sophomore Emma Tirollo (Orange, Conn./Amity Regional). Spalding then responded with a run in the home half and three more in the fourth to take a 4-2 lead for the time being.

Tirollo gave up four runs on four hits and fanned four in 4.0 IP as she got the start in the circle.

Cawley went 3-4 with a triple, RBI and two runs scored, while Rochford (2-3, RBI, R) and sophomore Gabriella Priolo (Howard Beach, N.Y./Sacred Heart Academy) who was 2-4 with a stolen base and a run scored also tallied multi-hit games for the Royals.

Scranton will wrap up action in Myrtle Beach on Wednesday with contests against Stevenson (11 a.m.) and Albertus Magnus (3 p.m.).

--ROYALS--