HUNTINGDON, Pa. – Graduate student right-hander Hunter Ralston (Duryea, Pa./Pittston Area) tossed a complete game in game one and senior John Zarnowski (East Brunswick, N.J./St. Joseph's) hit a go-ahead three-run blast in the eighth inning of game two to lead The University of Scranton baseball team (21-7, 12-5 Landmark) to a doubleheader sweep of the Juniata Eagles (9-20, 4-16 Landmark) on Saturday at Langdon-Goodale Field in Huntingdon.
The Royals took game one by a score of 10-1 and then rallied for an 8-4 victory in game two.
Scranton 10, Juniata 1
Ralston became the second Royals' pitcher in the last 11 days to throw a nine-inning complete game as the visitors cruised to the 10-1 victory.
The Duryea, Pa., native allowed one run on seven hits while walking one and fanning a career-high 10 on 103 pitches in the victory. Ralston's 10 strikeouts are the most by any Scranton pitcher since Brian Markowski fanned 11 in a victory over Moravian on Mar. 31, 2016.
Scranton immediately got on the board with three runs in the first inning as a single and hit by pitch put two runners on which set the stage for an RBI single from sophomore Conor Campbell (Wilmington, Del./Salesianum), Zarnowski's RBI groundout and an RBI single off the bat of fellow sophomore Vincent Napolitano (Merrick, N.Y./Kellenberg Memorial).
In the top of the fifth, sophomore Aidan Casey (Silver Beach, N.J./Don Bosco Prep) reached with a one-out single, took second on a bunt single, stole third and scored on Campbell's RBI single for a 4-0 lead.
Zachary Malone was dealt the loss for Juniata after allowing four runs on seven hits to go along with three walks and five strikeouts in six innings of work.
The Royals were able to break the game open in the later innings with three apiece in the eighth and ninth that extended the lead to 10-1. Junior TJ Pleban (Sugarloaf, Pa./Hazleton Area) and senior Jack Heineman (Abington, Pa./LaSalle College) each came through with a two-run double, while junior Jake Elston (New Milford, Conn./Canterbury School) hit his team-leading third home run of the season in the ninth inning.
Campbell (3-5, 2 RBI, 2 SB, 2 R) had three hits to lead the Royals and Casey (2-4, 2 SB, 2 R) and Elston (2-4, HR, RBI, 2 R) added two hits apiece in the victory.
Scranton 8, Juniata 4
Zarnowski hit a go-ahead three-run blast with two outs in the eighth to break a four-all tie and the Royals finished the doubleheader sweep with an 8-4 victory.
The Royals had runners at first and second with two outs in the eighth when Zarnowski delivered the clutch shot to center for his second home run of the season and a 7-4 edge.
Jason Waguespack was dealt the loss for the Eagles after allowing three runs on four hits while walking one and fanning two over 1 2/3 IP.
Senior lefty Mike Fox (Westfield, N.J./Union Catholic) earned the win for Scranton as he struck out a pair in 2 2/3 shutout IP of relief and fellow senior lefty Jason Carpenter (Scranton, Pa./Scranton) got the final six outs including three strikeouts over two scoreless frames to notch his second save.
Trailing 7-4, Juniata loaded the bases with two outs in the eighth, but Carpenter fanned Dakotah Snyder to end the threat.
Scranton struck for a run in the top of the second as Casey drew a bases-loaded walk, but Juniata later responded with four in the fourth inning to take a 4-1 lead for the time being. Charlie Bakken's two-run double was the key blow in the Eagles' four-run fourth.
Graduate student righty Daniel Johnson (Whitehouse Station, N.J./Immaculata) gave up four runs on six hits while walking one and fanning six over 4 1/3 IP in a no-decision.
Juniata's Braelan Huber allowed one run on two hits to go along with five walks and six strikeouts in four innings.
The Royals erased the 4-1 deficit with three runs in the seventh inning as Napolitano delivered a pinch-hit two-run single and Heineman added the game-tying RBI single two batters later.
Following Zarnowski's go-ahead homer in the eighth, the visitors tacked on an insurance run in the ninth when senior Nick Reposa (Factoryville, Pa./Tunkhannock) reached on an error charged to Juniata CF Corey Daniels which allowed Carpenter to score.
Casey (3-5, 2 SB, 2 R) and Heineman (2-5, 2B, R) both registered multi-hit games for head coach Mike Bartoletti's team.
Scranton will look to finish the three-game sweep on Sunday afternoon with first pitch slated for 12 p.m.
--ROYALS--
