The University of Scranton baseball team had its share of thrilling victories this season, but on Saturday, the Royals took it to another level.
Sophomore catcher Dan Hansen (Helena, Mont./Helena) ripped a two-run, walk-off homer in the bottom of the 10th inning to give the Royals a wild 13-11 victory over Catholic in the second game of their Landmark Conference semifinal series at Connell Park. The Cardinals won the opener, 7-1, putting the Royals on the brink of elimination going into the second game.
Sunday's decisive game three will begin at 11 a.m. at Connell Park. Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for senior citizens (ages 62 and up), students and children older than 10. Children 10 and under are admitted free. All Landmark Conference students and staff will be admitted free.
Scranton (22-14) needed more than just Hansen's walk-off homer in this one. The Royals carried a 9-5 lead into the top of the ninth, but Catholic (24-13-1) scored six times to take an 11-9 lead and put the Royals three outs from elimination.
As they've done all year, the Royals didn't give in easily, scoring twice in the bottom of the ninth to force extra innings. Senior right fielder Zach Dignam (Bridgewater, N.J./Immaculata) delivered an RBI double and junior left fielder Brian Healy (Middletown, N.J./Middletown South) had an RBI sacrifice fly that tied the game.
After sophomore lefty David Chromey (Old Forge, Pa./Old Forge) set the Cardinals down in order in the top of the 10th, Scranton got a one-out double from freshman third baseman Michael Ratner (Langhorne, Pa./The Pennington School). Hansen followed by working the count to 2-0 and connecting on a pitch on the inner half and sending it over the fence in right, setting off a wild celebration as the Royals mobbed him when he crossed home plate.
Scranton had 19 hits in the game, the Royals fourth game this season with at least that many hits. Senior first baseman Ross Danzig (Clarks Green, Pa./Abington Heights/Blair Academy, N.J.) led the way with four hits, including a double, with two RBIs and a run. Ratner finished with three hits, an RBI and two runs, Hansen had two hits, two RBIs and two runs, freshman center fielder Tommy Trotter (Cranford, N.J./Cranford) had three hits and three runs, and sophomore shortstop Patrick O'Dell (Phoenixville, Pa./St. Joseph's Prep) had three hits, two runs and an RBI.
The Royals also got two hits, including a solo home run, from sophomore second baseman Anthony Simone (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Valley Senior), a hit and four RBIs from Healy, and a double, three walks, two runs and an RBI from Dignam.
In the opener, Catholic took a 4-0 lead in the second inning on a grand slam by sophomore left fielder Brett Padula (Oakton, Va./Oakton).
The Royals got a run back in the fourth on an RBI pinch-hit single by freshman Chase Standen (Newtown, Square, Pa./St. Joseph's Prep), but Catholic held Scranton in check the rest of the way while scoring twice in the fifth and once in the ninth.
Trotter finished the opener with three hits, Simone had two and senior designated hitter Michael Umerich (Clarks Summit, Pa./Abington Heights) doubled and scored.
--ROYALS--