FARMINGDALE, N.Y. – The University of Scranton baseball team (3-2) split a doubleheader with the Farmingdale State Rams (1-1) in non-conference action on Saturday afternoon at the Farmingdale State Baseball Stadium.

Scranton notched a 17-2 victory in game one before dropping a 1-0 heartbreaker in nine innings in the nightcap.

Scranton 17, Farmingdale State 2

The Royals scored 13 runs in the first five innings and rolled to a 17-2 win over the Rams in game one.

Head coach Mike Bartoletti's team struck for a pair in the top of the first as a walk and a throwing error put two runners on before junior John Zarnowski (East Brunswick, N.J./St. Joseph's) cleared the bases with a two-run double. In the top of the third inning, graduate student Jake Lisicky (Whitehall, Pa./Whitehall) knocked in a pair with a two-run single and a throwing error followed by an RBI groundout extended the lead to 6-1 after three innings.

Farmingdale State cut the lead to 6-2 with a run in the fourth, but Scranton immediately responded with a seven spot in the top of the fifth when junior Jack Heineman (Abington, Pa./LaSalle College) plated a pair with a two-run single and classmates Matthew Querey (Wilmington, Del./Salesianum) and Corey Zientek (Sugarloaf, Pa./Hazleton Area) followed with an RBI single and a three-double, respectively.

Junior southpaw Matthew Moreira (Union, N.J./Saint Peter's Prep) got the start for the Royals and surrendered two runs on three hits while fanning a pair in four innings of work. Sophomore righty Dominic Chieffalo (Norristown, Pa./Malvern Prep) fired two shutout frames in relief and junior righty Anthony Marotta (Whitestone, N.Y./St. Francis Prep) delivered a scoreless inning of his own to complete the victory.

Stephen Clancy surrendered five runs (three earned) on two hits and walked three over two innings of work to take the loss for the Rams.

The Royals then added a run in the sixth and three in the seventh including a two-run single by graduate student Dan Crossan (Media, Pa./Archbishop Carroll) that plated the final two runs of the game.

Zarnowski led the way offensively with three hits and also added two RBI and two runs scored, while Crossan (2-2, 2 RBI, R) and Heineman (2-3, 2 RBI, SB, R) also tallied multi-hit games.

Farmingdale State 1, Scranton 0 (F/9 Innings)

The nightcap proved to be a pitcher's duel on both sides and things remained scoreless until the home half of the ninth as a fielder's choice bunt allowed the winning run to scamper home.

Farmingdale State's Michael Camardi fanned four and scattered three hits in five shutout innings of relief to earn the win. Scranton senior lefty Jason Carpenter (Scranton, Pa./Scranton) allowed the lone run on one hit and struck out one in 1 1/3 IP but was dealt the tough loss.

Senior right-hander Hunter Ralston (Duryea, Pa./Pittston Area) turned in an impressive start for the Royals as he allowed just two hits and fanned five over seven shutout innings.

Scranton threatened in the top of the seventh with the bases loaded and one out, but Camardi recorded consecutive strikeouts to end the frame.

The Royals will return home to host Dickinson in a non-conference matchup on Sunday afternoon at Volpe Field with first pitch slated for 1 p.m.

--ROYALS--