SCRANTON, Pa.—The University of Scranton and Wilkes University took turns belting each other around in a non-conference 7-inning doubleheader Tuesday at Connell Park.
In the first game, junior Angus Neary (Old Forge, Pa./Riverside) belted two home runs and finished with four hits and three RBI as the Colonels cruised to a 12-3 victory.
Wilkes also received three hits, including a home run, from sophomore Joe Dantas (Reading, Pa./Fleetwood) and home runs from juniors Matt Ruch (Dallas, Pa./Holy Redeemer) and Tay Sidler (Pottsville, Pa./Pottsville Area) to back up winning pitcher Sean Flecknoe (Wilkes-Barre, Pa./G.A.R.), who struck out five and allowed only one earned run in six innings.
Neary hit a two-run home run during a four-run rally in the first inning and ignited a 7-run rally in the third by leading off with a solo home run. Sidler, Dantas and Ruch also blasted home runs during the game-breaking rally.
Sophomore Greg Monastra (West Chester, Pa./Cardinal O'Hara) hit a two-run home run and sophomore Tim LeCompte (Philadelphia, Pa./Father Judge) and junior Matt Rayha (Willow Street, Pa./Cardinal O'Hara) had two hits for Scranton.
The Royals returned the favor in the nightcap, as senior David Giglio (Wallingford, Conn./Xavier) hit two home runs and finished with four hits and five RBI as Scranton won 14-3.
Senior catcher Jeff Manahan (Morris Plains, N.J./Morristown) finished with two hits, including a double that drove in three runs during an 8-run rally in the fifth inning that broke open a close game. Giglio followed Manahan's double with a home run, his team-leading sixth of the season, after belting a two-run home shot in the third to wipe away a 3-2 lead and give Scranton the lead for good.
Junior Jesse Outhouse (Croton Falls, N.Y./North Salem) finished with three hits, sophomore Michael Gaeta (Cranford, N.J./Cranford) had two, and senior Joe Amicucci (Pomona, N.Y./Albertus Magnus) and freshman Eric Pizzico (Royersford, Pa./Spring Ford) each smashed a double for Scranton, which finished with 14 hits.
The Royals, now 22-16, will meet 3rd-seeded Catholic University in a first-round game of the double-elimination Landmark Conference tournament this Saturday, May 7, at 4:00 p.m. at Gillespie Field on the campus of Moravian College in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.
Wilkes is now 21-16 on the season.