SCRANTON, Pa. – A six-run sixth inning gave The University of Scranton baseball team (17-5, 8-3 Landmark) the lead for good and the Royals notched a fifth straight win with an 18-12 victory over the Drew Rangers (14-11, 6-7 Landmark) on Wednesday evening at Volpe Field in Scranton.
Trailing 10-9, the Royals loaded the bases with two walks and a hit by pitch in the sixth before senior Jack Heineman (Abington, Pa./LaSalle College) tied the game with a sac fly and sophomore Aidan Casey (Silver Beach, N.J./Don Bosco Prep) came through with a go-ahead RBI infield single. Scranton went on to plate four more runs in the frame including an RBI single from freshman Jared Cassella (Flemington, N.J./Hunterdon Central) that extended the lead to 15-10.
Graham Ross was dealt the loss for Drew as he allowed six runs on two hits while walking a pair in 1/3 of an inning.
Senior southpaw Jason Carpenter (Scranton, Pa./Scranton) recorded his second victory of the season for the Royals as he gave up two runs (one earned) on three hits to go along with two strikeouts over 2 1/3 IP. Senior righty Nick Reposa (Factoryville, Pa./Tunkhannock) got the final four outs in relief and struck out a pair to notch his first save of the year.
Scranton led 17-12 in the top of the eighth when Drew loaded the bases with two away and Reposa came on to get Ryan Jones looking at strike three to end the threat.
Drew got on the board first in this one with a run in the top of the fourth, but the Royals immediately answered with nine in the home half to take a 9-1 lead for the time being. Casey and fellow sophomore Vincent Napolitano (Merrick, N.Y./Kellenberg Memorial) both delivered two-run singles as part of the fourth inning and senior Matthew Querey (Wilmington, Del./Salesianum) added an RBI single of his own in the frame.
Nic Curcio was dealt the loss for the Rangers after allowing eight runs (seven earned) on seven hits while walking one and fanning four in 3 1/3 IP.
Freshman righty Matt Holgado (West Chester, Pa./West Chester East) got the start for head coach Mike Bartoletti's team and was charged with two runs on five hits to go along with two walks and five strikeouts over 4 2/3 IP in a no-decision.
The Rangers plated a run in the fifth and then were able to take a 10-9 lead with eight runs in the sixth inning as Jones knocked in a pair with a two-run double and Billy Coleman added an RBI triple.
However, Scranton quickly regained the lead with the six-run sixth inning and freshman Jake Lopez (Oakland, N.J./Ramapo) struck for a two-run single in the seventh that made it a 17-11 game at the time.
Lopez (4-5, 2 RBI, SB, 2 R) led the way offensively and four other players recorded two hits apiece as part of a 15-hit attack for the Royals. Casey drove in a career-high three runs in the victory, while Querey added a hit, three walks, two RBI, two stolen bases and three runs scored.
Elsewhere for Scranton, Napolitano and junior Jake Elston each added two hits, two RBI and two runs scored.
The Royals will host Susquehanna in a Landmark Conference doubleheader on Saturday afternoon at Volpe Field with first pitch of game one slated for 12 p.m.
--ROYALS--
