SCRANTON, Pa. – Graduate student Connor Harding (Vestal, N.Y./Vestal) delivered a go-ahead two-run double as part of a four-run eighth inning and The University of Scranton baseball team (27-9-1, 13-4 Landmark) broke the program's single-season wins record with an 11-9 comeback victory over the Susquehanna River Hawks (14-22, 8-9 Landmark) on Monday evening at Volpe Field in Scranton.
With the victory, the Royals notched their 27th win of the year, surpassing the mark set by the 2008 team that won 26 games.
Scranton currently sits in second place in the Landmark Conference with one conference game remaining and can clinch the No. 1 seed with a victory over Moravian on Saturday.
Harding stepped to the plate with the bases loaded and one out in the bottom of the eighth in a 9-9 game and delivered the clutch two-run double over the head of River Hawks' left fielder Brock Veit for the 11-9 lead. Earlier in the frame, the Royals had loaded the bases with two walks and a hit by pitch before a second hit batsmen brought home a run and an errant pickoff throw charged to reliever Brice Gregory brought home the tying run.
Gregory walked two and hit a batter and was charged with the two go-ahead runs as he took the loss for Susquehanna.
Junior right-hander Liam Fitzgerald (Pearl River, N.Y./Pearl River) came on in a jam in the top of the eighth and got the final two outs of the inning to record his third win of the year for Scranton. Senior left-hander Ryan Heiser (New Milford, N.J./Saint Joseph Regional) struck out a pair in a scoreless ninth to notch his Landmark Conference leading fifth save.
The River Hawks had taken a 9-7 lead with two runs in the top of the eighth.
Earlier in the game, the Royals opened the scoring with solo runs in each of the first two innings as sophomore Corey Zientek (Sugarloaf, Pa./Hazleton Area) came through with an RBI single and classmate John Zarnowski (East Brunswick, N.J./St. Joseph's) added an RBI double. A four-run third inning extended the lead to 6-0 as junior George Jenkins (Allentown, Pa./Parkland) delivered a two-run single, while senior Tyler Kirsten (Wallenpaupack, Pa./Wallenpaupack Area) knocked in a run with an RBI single and fellow senior Jake Lisicky (Whitehall, Pa./Whitehall) chipped in with a sac fly.
Kirsten single tied the program's single-season RBI record of 56 that was set by Chris Bligh on two occasions in 2008 and 2010.
Susquehanna starter Cole Bernier allowed five runs on four hits to go along with three walks and a strikeout in two plus innings.
The visitors cut the lead in half with three runs in the fifth and took the lead for the time being with four more in the top of the sixth. However, the Royals once again answered to tie things at seven in the bottom of the seventh as Jenkins reached on an infield single, advanced to third on a double and scored on a wild pitch.
Sophomore right-hander Thomas Plunkett (Mamaroneck, N.Y./Mamaroneck) surrendered three runs on three hits while walking three and fanning four over five innings of work in a no-decision for Scranton. In relief of Plunkett, senior righty Luke Hoey (Southampton, N.J./Seneca) fanned two in two shutout frames.
Harding (2-5, 2B, 2 RBI, SB, R), Jenkins (2-3, 2 RBI, R), Zarnowski (2-3, 2 2B, RBI) and Zientek (2-4, SB, RBI, R) all registered multi-hit games for head coach Mike Bartoletti's club.
The Royals are back in action on Wednesday afternoon at Keystone for the final non-conference game of the season with first pitch slated for 3:45 p.m.
--ROYALS--