Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score
Junior Kevin Haag (Ossining, N.Y./Ossining/Bridgton Academy (Maine)) collected his 100th career hit on Saturday, but The University of Scranton dropped both ends of a Landmark Conference baseball doubleheader to Drew at Volpe Field.
The Rangers (13-10, 5-3 Landmark) won the opening game, which went nine innings, 4-3, before defeating the Royals (10-11, 6-4 Landmark) in the nightcap, 5-1.
Game 1
In Saturday's opener, junior Bobby Hegarty (Wantagh, N.Y/Wantagh) threw eight strong innings, but Scranton was unable to capitalize after rallying to tie the game at 3-3 in the bottom of the seventh inning. After the Royals were unable to walk-off in the home seventh, the game became the day's nine-inning contest with Drew prevailing with an unearned run in the top of the eight.
Hegarty did not allow a hit through the first 2.2 innings, but Rangers' first of just three hits against Hegarty in his eight-inning effort, was a big one. With two outs in the top of the third and a pair of runners on, Zach Lipshitz connected on a three-run home run to give the visitors a 3-0 advantage.
Scranton got a run back in the bottom of the third as junior Travis Adams (Clark, N.J./St. Joseph's Metuchen) scored on a passed ball and pulled to within one, 3-2, the following inning on an RBI double from junior Matt Fisch (Spring Brook Township, Pa./North Pocono).
Down the their final at bats in the home seventh, senior Matt McDonald (Clarks Summit, Pa./Abington Heights) came home with the tying run as sophomore Connor Harding (Vestal, N.Y./Vestal) reached on a fielder's choice. The Royals had runners on second and third with two outs, but were unable to push across the winning run.
In the visitor's eighth, Drew's leadoff hitter reached on an error and would later come into score the game-winning run on an RBI single by the Rangers.
Hegarty charged with the hard-luck loss while striking out two batters and walking three in the contest.
Freshman Ryan Heiser (New Milford, N.J./Saint Joseph Regional) pitched a scoreless ninth inning for the Royals, working around a one-out double to keep Scranton within a run.
Adams led Scranton with a pair of hits as the hosts held a 6-4 edge in hits for the game.
Game 2
In Saturday's second game, Scranton was stifled by Drew's Jeff Serin, who tossed a complete game two-hitter in which he held the Royals to just a pair of sixth inning singles.
Serin got all the offense he would need in the top of the second as the Rangers scored four runs on five hits and one Scranton error.
The visitors made it a 5-0 game in the third inning and were in control with Serin cruising until the home sixth.
Harding led off the bottom of the sixth with a single to center to breakup Serin's no-hit bid. Haag followed by lacing a single to right field for his 100th career hit to put a pair of runners on for Scranton. The runners moved to second and third on a groundout before Harding scored the Royals' lone run of the game on a balk by Serin.
Sophomore Matt Morrow (Bethlehem, Pa./Bethlehem Catholic) suffered the loss after being charged with five runs on seven hits while striking out two batters in three innings of work.
Freshman James Gadue (West Hartford, Conn./Hall) was strong in relief, pitching four scoreless inning with four K's and three hits against.
Up Next
Scranton and Drew will wrap up their three-game regular series with a single, nine-inning game on Sunday at Volpe Field. First pitch is set for 12 p.m. in Scranton.
--ROYALS--