SCRANTON, Pa. – Senior Jack Heineman (Abington, Pa./LaSalle College) tallied his 100th career hit as part of a three-hit day and The University of Scranton baseball team (23-8) notched a 12-6 victory over the William Paterson Pioneers (9-25) in non-conference action on Tuesday at Volpe Field in Scranton.
This marks the third straight year that the Royals have defeated the Pioneers.
After the visitors struck for two in the top of the first, Scranton quickly responded with two in the home half as junior Pat Coyne (Randolph, N.J./Morristown-Beard) came through with an RBI single and Heineman followed with an RBI single of his own that tied the game.
The Royals took the lead for good with a three-run third inning as a walk, hit by pitch and bunt single loaded the bases with nobody out which set the stage for senior Matthew Querey's (Wilmington, Del./Salesianum) two-run single. Heineman scored later in the frame on a sac fly from fellow senior Brendan Douthit (Monroe, N.Y./John S. Burke Catholic) that stretched the lead to 5-2.
Sophomore Vincent Napolitano (Merrick, N.Y./Kellenberg Memorial) added an RBI double in the fourth inning and classmate Aidan Casey (Silver Beach, N.J./Don Bosco Prep) plated a run with an RBI single in the fifth inning as the Royals opened a 7-3 edge.
Fellow sophomore Ryan Boyd (Millwood, N.Y./Kennedy Catholic) gave up three runs on four hits to go along with a walk and a career-high six strikeouts over a career-long 5.0 IP to earn the win for Scranton. Boyd's six strikeouts surpassed his previous career-high of four that had been set against Dickinson on Mar. 5, 2023.
A five-run seventh inning extended the lead to 12-3 as freshman Jake Lopez (Oakland, N.J./Ramapo) knocked in a pair with a two-run single and fellow freshmen Jared Cassella (Flemington, N.J./Hunterdon Central) and Robert Schneider (Millburn, N.J./Millburn) added RBI singles of their own in the frame.
William Paterson got three back in the eighth to draw within six at 12-6, but was unable to get any closer as junior righty Jimmy Murray (Hawthorne, N.Y./Westlake) struck out a pair over 1 2/3 IP of scoreless relief for the Royals.
Casey (3-5, 3B, RBI, 4 SB, R) and Heineman (3-4, 2 RBI, SB, R) tallied three hits apiece to lead a 14-hit attack, while Cassella (2-2, RBI, R) registered two hits of own.
Scranton will hit the road to battle Drew in a Landmark Conference matchup on Wednesday afternoon with first pitch slated for 3:30 p.m.
--ROYALS--
