FORT MYERS, Fla. – Graduate student right-hander Daniel Johnson (Whitehouse Station, N.J./Immaculata) matched the program's career wins record and The University of Scranton baseball team (4-1) split a pair of contests on the first day of the program's annual Spring Break trip on Saturday at Terry Park in Fort Myers.
Johnson did not allow an earned run over six strong innings as the Royals notched a 5-1 victory over Bluffton. Scranton had dropped a close 8-7 decision to Augustana (IL) in the first game of the day.
Augustana 8, Scranton 7
Senior John Zarnowski (East Brunswick, N.J./St. Joseph's) knocked in a run with a two-out RBI single in the ninth to bring the Royals within a run at 8-7, but Augustana was able to get a strikeout to end the game.
The Vikings had taken the lead for good with a three-run fifth inning.
Scranton struck first with a pair of runs in the top of the first as a walk and a double put two runners on before senior Jack Heineman (Abington, Pa./LaSalle College) cleared the bases with a two-run double. Augustana quickly answered with three in the home half and a Scranton error in the frame led to two of the three runs.
After the Vikings plated a solo run in the fourth to take a 4-2 lead, the Royals quickly fought back with a three-run fifth to take a 5-4 lead for the time being. Junior Jake Elston (New Milford, Conn./Canterbury School) tied the game at four with a two-run blast and Heineman added an RBI on a sac bunt later in the frame.
In the bottom of the fifth, the Vikings started the inning with consecutive singles and scored three runs to take a 7-5 lead.
Junior righty Jimmy Murray (Hawthorne, N.Y./Westlake) was charged with the loss for the Royals as he allowed three runs on four hits and fanned two in an inning of work.
Brian Fischer recorded the win for Augustana as he gave up five runs (four earned) on seven hits to go along with two walks and two strikeouts over 5.0 IP.
Graduate student righty Hunter Ralston (Duryea, Pa./Pittston Area) allowed four runs (two earned) on seven hits while walking three and fanning three in four innings of work in a no-decision.
The Royals got a run back in the sixth on a sac fly from senior Matthew Querey (Wilmington, Del./Salesianum) and Augustana then got an insurance run in the eighth with a solo home run.
Sophomore Conor Campbell (Wilmington, Del./Salesianum) tallied three hits and three runs scored for Scranton, while both Heineman and Zarnowski added two hits apiece. In relief, senior southpaw Jason Carpenter (Scranton, Pa./Scranton) gave up one run on one hit and struck out one over 2 2/3 IP.
Scranton 5, Bluffton 1
Johnson allowed just an unearned run over six innings of work and the Royals scored two in the first en route to a 5-1 victory.
The Whitehouse Station, N.J., native gave up an unearned run on two hits to go along with two walks and five strikeouts to earn his 18th career victory, matching the record that was set by Drew Morano (1989-92).
A walk and a single put two runners on in the first and set the stage for Zarnowski's RBI single that put the Royals on the board. Following a Heineman walk, sophomore Aidan Casey (Silver Beach, N.J./Don Bosco Prep) followed with an RBI single of his own for a 2-0 edge.
In the home half of the fourth, a hit by pitch, walk and single loaded the bases with two away for Zarnowski who delivered a three-run triple that made it a 5-0 game.
The Beavers got their lone run of the game in the sixth.
Junior righty Dominic Chieffalo (Norristown, Pa./Malvern Prep) struck out a pair over in two scoreless innings and senior righty George Sengos (Washington Twp., N.J./Westwood Regional) retired the side in order in his lone inning of work to help secure the victory for the Royals.
Campbell (2-3, R) and Zarnowski (2-4, 2B, 3B, 4 RBI) both registered multi-hit games for head coach Mike Bartoletti's team.
Zarnowski's four RBI tied his career-best that had previously been set on two occasions.
Scranton is back in action on Monday for matchups against Haverford (12 p.m.) and Franklin & Marshall (3 p.m.).
--ROYALS--
