FORT MYERS, Fla. – The University of Scranton baseball team endured a rough first inning that included a five-plus-hour rain delay in a season-opening 14-5 loss to John Carroll on Thursday.
Senior first baseman Eric Pizzico (Royersford, Pa./Spring-Ford) went 3-for-5 with a double, three RBIs and a run scored for Scranton (0-1). Sophomore outfielder Zach Dignam (Bridgewater, N.J./Immaculata) had two singles and scored twice, and senior catcher Eddie Ravert (Havertown, Pa./Malvern Prep) added two singles and an RBI.
John Carroll (3-5) scored four times in the top of the first inning before the rains came, forcing a postponement that lasted nearly five and a half hours and sent both teams back to their hotels. When play resumed, the Blue Streaks added three more runs before the inning ended, putting the Royals in a 7-0 hole before they stepped to the plate.
Scranton scored single runs in the second and third innings to pull within 7-2, but John Carroll responded with three runs in the top of the fourth for a commanding 10-2 lead.
The Royals also received a single and a run scored each from senior third baseman Mike Trabulsi (Malverne, N.Y./Chaminade) and junior second baseman Matt Maghini (Madison, Conn./Daniel Hand).
Scranton returns to action on Friday when it faces Neumann in a doubleheader at noon at Terry Park in Fort Myers, Fla.
--ROYALS--