University of Scranton

The University of Scranton baseball team surged to a 7-2 win over Bridgewater College on Friday afternoon, opening the NCAA Regionals with a victory and securing the first NCAA Tournament win in program history.

Scranton advances to the winner's bracket of the Washington & Jefferson Regional and will compete in the winner's bracket final Saturday afternoon against the winner of Friday's 2:30 p.m. matchup between Chicago and Washington & Jefferson.

The Basics 

• Final Score: Scranton – 7, Bridgewater – 2
• Records: Scranton (29-15); Bridgewater (33-14) 
• Win: John DeStefano (3-1); Loss: Cam Nuckols (6-3)

• Bridgewater put a pair of runners on in the bottom of the first inning, but Scranton starter John DeStefano worked out of the jam, striking out Bransen Hensley to strand both runners and end the threat.
• The Eagles broke through in the third, scoring the game's first run. After a leadoff double, DeStefano induced back-to-back pop outs. Chandler Valbak followed with an infield single to short that plated a run, but DeStefano struck out Hensley once again to keep the deficit at 1-0.
• Scranton responded in the top of the fourth. With two outs, Brayden Keller drew a walk and stole second before Vincent Napolitano delivered an RBI single to tie the game at 1-1.
• The Royals grabbed their first lead in the sixth, scoring twice on three hits. With Joey Granko and Napolitano aboard and two outs, a wild pitch moved both runners into scoring position. Aidan Casey then lined a two-run double down the right field line to give Scranton a 3-1 edge.
• DeStefano answered with a shutdown sixth, striking out the side. He returned for the seventh but exited after allowing a leadoff single and recording one out, finishing with 6.1 innings pitched and eight strikeouts. Bridgewater greeted reliever Kieran Lodewick with a pair of singles that brought home a run to cut the lead to 3-2. Lodewick regrouped to retire the next two hitters and limit the damage.
• In the eighth, Granko singled to open the frame and moved to second on a passed ball. One out later, Keller lined an RBI single to extend the lead to 4-2.
• Lodewick tossed a scoreless eighth, and Scranton added insurance in the ninth with three two-out runs. John Heitzman sparked the rally with a double, followed by an RBI single from Granko. Matthew Gannon singled through the right side to put two on for Keller, who delivered a two-run double to stretch the advantage to 7-2.
• Scranton turned to closer Logan Mason in the ninth, and he retired the side in order with two punchouts, sealing the 7-2 victory.

• With the win, Scranton advances to the winner's bracket final tomorrow at 2:30 p.m. The Royals will face the winner of the second game this afternoon between Chicago and Washington & Jefferson.