WASHINGTON, PA -- The University of Scranton baseball team split a pair of games at the Washington & Jefferson Tournament in Washington. The Royals dropped an 8-6 decision to Washington & Jefferson College in the opener before bouncing back with an 11-6 victory over No. 14 Case Western Reserve University in the second game of the day.
Game One
- Washington & Jefferson - 8; Scranton - 6
- Win: Anthony Pass (1-0); Loss: Thomas Martelli (0-1); Save: Justin Giarrusso (1)
How it Happened
- Both starters were sharp, as neither team scored over the first four innings. John DeStefano tossed 3 2/3 scoreless innings with five strikeouts and no walks for Scranton.
- Washington & Jefferson broke through in the bottom of the fifth against the Royals' bullpen, erupting for eight runs in the inning. Thirteen batters came to the plate as the Presidents recorded four hits, including a pair of RBI singles and a two-run double, to take an 8-0 lead.
- Scranton answered in the top of the sixth with three runs. After a Matthew Gannon double, John Heitzman, who had singled earlier in the inning, scored on an error. A few batters later, with the bases loaded, Evan Laub was hit by a pitch to force in the second run. The third run of the frame also came on an error to trim the deficit to 8-3.
- The Royals pulled closer in the eighth, scoring three runs to cut the lead to 8-6. Roman Valvano led off with a pinch-hit single, and Vincent Napolitano was hit by a pitch to put two on with no outs. Joey Granko then blasted a three-run home run over the right-center field wall for the first home run of his career.
- Mason Fischer worked a 1-2-3 eighth inning and Scranton put the lead off runner aboard in the ninth, but the rally fell short as the Royals dropped the game, 8-6.
Top Performers
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Game Two
How it Happened
- Case Western Reserve jumped on Scranton starter Nick Hernandez in the first inning, scoring two runs with one out on a pair of RBI singles.
- Scranton responded in the bottom of the frame, scoring three runs to take a 3-2 lead. With Gannon and Campbell on second and third after singles, Gannon came home on a wild pitch. Two batters later, Granko singled to drive in Campbell and tie the game at 2-2. Logan Mason followed with a double down the left field line that scored Heitzman to give the Royals the lead.
- The Royals allowed an unearned run in the top of the second to even the score at 3-3.
- Hernandez settled in after the first inning, following the opening frame with three innings pitched, no earned runs, and six strikeouts.
- In the bottom of the third, with runners on second and third, James Nitti singled through the right side to bring home the go-ahead run and put Scranton back in front, 4-3.
- The Spartans tied the game in the fifth on a ground out and took their first lead in the sixth on an RBI single to make it 5-4.
- Scranton answered in the bottom of the sixth with two runs to regain a 6-5 advantage. After Granko reached third on an error and Mason was hit by a pitch, Jimmy Lundari singled to right to score Granko. An error in right field on the same play allowed Mason to score the go-ahead run.
- Case Western tied the game in the seventh on a triple and a wild pitch, but Scranton responded in the bottom half with an RBI single from Campbell to take a 7-6 lead.
- After two quick outs in the eighth, the Spartans put two runners on. The Royals turned to Logan Mason, who recorded a strikeout to end the threat and preserve the 7-6 lead.
- Scranton added four insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth to extend the lead to 11-6. With the bases loaded and two outs, Campbell drove in a Jared Cassella with an infield single, and an error then allowed Aidan Casey to score on the play. Heitzman then singled home Gannon and Campbell to cap off the four run inning.
- Mason put the finishing touches on the win with a scoreless ninth, earning his first save of the season as the Royals defeated No. 11 Case Western Reserve, 11-6.
Top Performers
Up Next:
- The Royals will play Ithaca College on Wednesday at Volpe Field in Scranton, with first pitch set for 4:30 PM.
