FT. MYERS, Fla.—The University of Scranton stranded 17 runners on base in dropping a pair of games to Luther College (Iowa) today at Terry Park.
In the opener, sophomore pitcher Alex Byom (Ettrick, Wis./Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau) struck out three batters and scattered eight singles over six innings to lead the Norse to a 5-2 victory.
Sophomore Chris Erikson (Lakeville, Minn./South) finished with two hits and an RBI and juniors Mitchel Obey (Chatfield, Min./Chosen Valley) and Ryan Bahnemann (Brooklyn Park, Minn./Park Central) and senior Joseph Thompson (Moline, Ill./Moline) each had a single and an RBI for Luther, which built up a 5-0 lead before the Royals answered with two in the bottom of the seventh.
Scranton, which stranded three runners in the fourth inning and two in the second, finally got on the scoreboard when senior David Giglio (Wallingford, Conn./Xavier) drew a walk with the bases-loaded to force in a run. With the bases still loaded, the Norse got out of the jam when Brandon Torkelson (Elgin, Iowa/Valley Community) relieved Byom and immediately induced a double-play that scored Scranton's second run. Torkelson then struck out the next batter to end the game and earn the save.
Despite taking the loss, Royal sophomore pitcher Matt Marinelli (Westbury, N.Y./Holy Trinity) turned in a solid effort, going 6 1/3 innings, striking out four and scattering eight singles. On the offensive end, sophomore Greg Monastra (West Chester, Pa./Cardinal O'Hara) led Scranton with two hits.
In the nightcap, the Royals committed two costly errors in dropping an 8-4 decision.
The first came in the bottom of the third inning after Scranton took a 1-0 lead in the top half of the frame on an RBI single sophomore Richard Pohl (Belvidere, N.J./Belvidere). After a Royal error to open the bottom half, junior Chris Reynolds (West Des Moines, Iowa/Valley) belted a two-run home run to give the Norse the lead for good.
Scranton committed another error to open the fourth inning, and the Norse responded with a six-run rally to stretch their lead to 8-1.
The Royals did answer with three runs in the fifth, but once again, left three runners on base. For the game, Scranton stranded eight runners. Stallone and Pohl led the way with two hits apiece and junior Matt Rayha (Willow Street, Pa./Penn Manon) and senior Jason Lane (Moosic, Pa./Riverside) had one apiece.
Stallone finished with three hits today (in six at-bats) to raise his team-leading average to .429. Rayha is next at .364, followed by Giglio at .355.
The Royals will play a doubleheader against Western Connecticut State University tomorrow morning at 9:00 a.m.