SCRANTON, Pa.—Sophomore pitcher Robert Della Polla (Havertown, Pa./St. Joseph's Preparatory) allowed just two hits over eight scoreless innings as The University of Scranton opened a three-game Landmark Conference series with a 13-1 victory over Drew University Friday afternoon at Connell Park.

Senior David Giglio (Wallingford, Conn./Xavier) belted a home run and a double and drove in three runs and senior Chris Stallone (South Plainfield, N.J./South Plainfield) finished with two hits, four stolen bases and scored four times as the Royals won their second straight to improve to 10-14 overall and 5-5 in the Landmark Conference. 

Drew, which avoided the shutout on an RBI double by freshman Benny Lyman (Flemington, N.J./Hunterdon Central) in the ninth inning, fell to 8-18-1 overall and 1-11-1 in the conference.

The Royals jumped out 2-0 in the bottom of the first inning as Stallone led off with a single, stole second and third, and scored on a wild pitch.  Giglio then hit a two-out solo shot that caromed off the top of the left-field fence for his third home run of the season.

Scranton added four more in the third inning on a two-run single by sophomore Michael Gaeta (Cranford, N.J./Cranford) and tacked on another three in the fourth on RBI singles by sophomore Tim LeCompte (Philadelphia, Pa./Roman Catholic) and senior Jeff Manahan (Morris Plains, N.J./Morristown).

With a comfortable lead, Della Polla did the rest, striking out seven batters and allowing just two singles—an infielder single by sophomore Michael Bodden (Toms River, N.J./Monsignor Donovan) in the fourth and a single to right field by Drew Obergfell (Cranford, N.J./Roselle Catholic) in the fifth—to improve to 3-2 on the season.  His seven strikeouts tied his season high and his eight scoreless innings lowered his ERA to 4.28 from 5.34.

Scranton and Drew will play a 7-inning doubleheader Saturday morning beginning at 11:00 a.m. at Connell Park.