FT. MYERS, Fla.—It may be hard to believe, but The University of Scranton may actually look forward to returning to Northeastern Pennsylvania, especially after wrapping up a nine-game Spring Break trip with two losses today to the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh.
The Royals were limited to four singles in dropping a 6-3 decision in the opener. In the second game, Scranton battled back from a 3-0 deficit to forge a 3-3 before the Titans exploded for 11 runs over a 3-inning span en route to a 14-6 victory.
The Royals dropped eight of nine games this past week to fall to 6-10, after opening the season with a 5-2 record, its best start since 1990.
Scranton did, however, make the most of their four hits in the opener, scoring three runs on three hits in the bottom of the fifth inning to cut a 4-0 deficit down to 4-3. Senior Chris Stallone (South Plainfield, N.J./South Plainfield) drove in two runs with a single, senior David Giglio (Wallingford, Conn./Xavier) knocked in a run with a single, and senior Jeff Manahan (Morris Plains, N.J./Morristown) singled and scored a run.
The Titans regained the momentum by scoring twice in the top of the sixth.
Sophomore Tyler Kamps (Appleton, Wis./East) hit two doubles and drove in three runs and seniors Nolan Fadness (Eau Claire, Wis./Memorial) and Derek Hiroskey (Kimberly, Wis.) finished with two hits apiece.
Hiroskey, Fadness and sophomore Doug Beattie (Escanaba, Mich.) combined for five hits and 10 RBI in the nightcap. Beattie delivered the big blow during a six-run rally in the fifth with a bases-clearing double.
Sophomore Michael Amaturo (Rye, N.Y./Rye) had two hits, junior Sean Butler (Dickson City, Pa./Scranton) drove in two runs with a pinch-hit double in the seventh, and sophomore Anthony Duchnowski (Dunmore, Pa./Holy Cross-Bishop O'Hara) also drove in a run in the seventh with a pinch-hit single for Scranton, which finished with 12 hits.
Due to the cold weather gripping much of Northeastern Pennsylvania, the Royals' game with Wilkes University this Tuesday, March 29, at Connell Park has been postponed so that the Colonels can accommodate a rescheduled Freedom Conference series from this weekend. No make-up date has been announced.