DALLAS, Pa. – The University of Scranton baseball team (15-11) dropped a 13-7 decision to the Misericordia University Cougars (23-5) in non-conference action on Tuesday afternoon at Tambur Field in Dallas.

Misericordia scored multiple runs in each of the first four innings and the Royals were unable to overcome the early deficit despite the late rally.

The Cougars are ranked No. 21 in the latest D3baseball.com poll that was released this week.

Scranton struck first with two runs in the top of the first as a double and single put two runners on before graduate student Dan Crossan (Media, Pa./Archbishop Carroll) and freshman Vincent Napolitano (Merrick, N.Y./Kellenberg Memorial) both came through with RBI singles.

In the home half of the inning, Misericordia responded with two runs of their own and added two more in the second to take an early 4-2 lead.

Junior right-hander Thomas Plunkett (Mamaroneck, N.Y./Mamaroneck) was dealt the loss for the Royals as he gave up seven runs (five earned) on three hits to go along with two walks in 2 1/3 IP.

Max Oliver got the win for the Cougars after allowing two runs on seven hits while walking two and fanning three in five innings of work.

Misericordia scored in each of the next two frames including a four-run third that helped extend the lead to 10-2 for the time being.

The Royals began to battle back in the top of the sixth as a wild pitch brought home the first run of the inning and Crossan cleared the bases with a three-run double down the left field line to bring the visitors within four at 10-6. However, the Cougars immediately answered with three runs in the home half that made it a 13-6 game.

Scranton plated their final run of the day in the seventh as freshman Logan Mason (Flemington, N.J./Hunterdon Central) reached on an error, advanced to second on the throw and scored later in the inning on an error charged to Cougars' 3B Jason Sanfilippo.

Crossan went 3-5 on the day and matched his career-high with four RBI, while the trio of freshman Aidan Casey (Silver Beach, N.J./Don Bosco Prep), graduate student Jake Lisicky (Whitehall, Pa./Whitehall) and junior Corey Zientek (Sugarloaf, Pa./Hazleton Area) added two hits apiece.

Freshman right-hander Aidan Rumain (Martinsville, N.J./Immaculata) who allowed a hit in a scoreless frame and senior lefty Jason Carpenter (Scranton, Pa./Scranton) who struck out three in three shutout innings both had unblemished outings in relief.

The University of Scranton baseball team returns home to host Arcadia in a non-conference matchup on Friday evening at Volpe Field with first pitch set for 5 p.m.

--ROYALS--