SCRANTON, Pa. – Senior right-hander Thomas Plunkett (Mamaroneck, N.Y./Mamaroneck) threw a complete game shutout and The University of Scranton baseball team (16-5) notched a 2-0 victory over the No. 19 Misericordia Cougars (17-8) on Tuesday at Volpe Field in Scranton.

Plunkett is the first Royals pitcher to throw a nine-inning complete game since Brian Markowski in a win over Elizabethtown on May 11, 2018.

The Mamaroneck, N.Y., native scattered just five hits to go along with two walks and four strikeouts on 104 pitches. He worked around a two-out bunt single in the ninth and struck out the side to preserve the shutout.  

For Plunkett, his previous career-long outing was 7.0 IP which had been done twice.

The Royals have now taken down the Cougars in two of the last three seasons.

Scranton got on the board in the home half of the first with consecutive doubles from senior Matthew Querey (Wilmington, Del./Salesianum) and sophomore Conor Campbell (Wilmington, Del./Salesianum) to grab an early 1-0 lead.

Max Oliver was dealt the loss for Misericordia as he allowed a run on five hits while walking two and fanning four in four innings of work.

Senior John Zarnowski (East Brunswick, N.J./St. Joseph's) extended the lead in the fifth inning with a solo shot over the right centerfield wall for his first home run of the season.

Querey (2-4, 2B, R), Zarnowski (2-3, HR, RBI, R), junior Jake Elston (New Milford, Conn./Canterbury School) and sophomore Aidan Casey (Silver Beach, N.J./Don Bosco Prep) all tallied two hits apiece as part of a nine-hit attack on the day.

The University of Scranton baseball team will host Drew in a Landmark Conference matchup on Wednesday afternoon at Volpe Field with first pitch slated for 4:30 p.m.

--ROYALS--