Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The University of Scranton split a Landmark Conference doubleheader on Saturday at Catholic, winning the opener 11-10 before falling in the nightcap, 7-1.

The Royals (8-8, 5-2 Landmark) and Cardinals (10-9, 3-5 Landmark), who meet in the conference championship game last spring, will close out their regular season series tomorrow at noon at Catholic.

Game 1

Scranton overcame a 6-1, sixth-inning deficit in Saturday's opener and held on to defeat the Cardinals, 11-10. 

Catholic jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the first and, after Scranton got a run back on a solo home run from junior Brandon Peters (Peckville, Pa./Valley View), in the second inning, added a pair of runs in the home fifth to take a five-run advantage.

The Royals scored three unearned runs in the top of the sixth and added four more in the seventh with a two-run double from Peters giving the visitors an 8-6 lead.

With the first game originally scheduled to be a seven-inning contest, Catholic turned it into a nine-inning affair by plating a pair of runs in the home seventh, knotting the score at eight-apiece.

An RBI double from junior Kevin Haag (Ossining, N.Y./Ossining/Bridgton Academy (Maine)) put Scranton back in front in the top of the eighth and the Royals added a pair of much-needed insurance runs in the ninth inning, pushing their lead to 11-8.

The Cardinals scored twice in the bottom of the ninth and had the tying run on base before the Royals closed the door for the victory.

Haag went 3-for-5 with two doubles and two RBI while Peters added a pair of hits and three RBI to lead Scranton.  Sophomore Connor Harding (Vestal, N.Y./Vestal) had two hits and scored three runs while junior Tim Gailor (Lancaster, Pa./Hempfield) had two hits and two runs scored.

On the mound, senior Pat Rohr (Audubon, Pa./Devon Prep) took a no-decision with six runs against in 5.2 innings while picking up one strikeout. 

Senior Matt McDonald (Clarks Summit, Pa./Abington Heights) retired the only batter he faced before turning the ball over to classmate Bryan Carmon (Flemington, N.J./Hunterdon Central) who pitched the final three innings and claimed the win with four runs against and one strikeout.

Game 2

In Saturday's nightcap, Catholic scored the first seven runs of the game, taking advantage of three Scranton errors to plate four unearned runs to take control of the game.

The Cardinals scored a pair of unearned runs in the bottom of the first and added a run on a sacrifice fly the following inning to take a 3-0 lead.

The hosts stretched their lead to 5-0 as a pair of runs came home in the home fourth on an error by the Royals before a two-run single in the bottom of the fifth made it a seven-run game.

Scranton got on the board in the top of the sixth as Harding drove in Gailor with a double to the gap in left center.

Harding's RBI double was the only extra-base hit of the contest for the Royals, who totaled six hits in the loss. 

Junior Kyle Bravin (Washington Township, N.J./Westwood Regional) suffered the loss with just one earned run against in 3.1 innings while striking out one batter. 

Freshman James Gadue (West Hartford, Conn./Hall) went 1.1 innings in relief with two runs against and one strikeout while fellow freshman Luke Hoey (Southampton, N.J./Seneca) surrendered one hit and no runs with one punch out in the final 1.1 innings on the hill for the Royals.

Up Next

Scranton and Catholic will wrap up their season series on Sunday with a nine-inning game starting at 12 p.m. in Washington, D.C.

--ROYALS--