FLEMINGTON, N.J. – Junior designated hitter Eric Pizzico (Royersford, Pa./Spring Ford) had five hits on the day and senior lefty Corey Gorman (Laflin, Pa./Coughlin) struck out six in an opening-game victory as The University of Scranton baseball team split a doubleheader against FDU-Florham, winning 8-4 and losing 8-3, at chilly Diamond Nation on Sunday.

Pizzico went 3-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored in the opener for the Royals (2-2). His effort at the plate backed Gorman, who earned the win by allowing four runs, one earned, on five hits and four walks while striking out six in 4 2/3 innings.

The Royals turned a 1-0 deficit into a 4-1 lead in the fourth when junior third baseman Michael Trabulsi (Malverne, N.Y./Chaminade) and sophomore second baseman Matt Maghini (Madison, Conn./Daniel Hand) had RBI singles, and senior shortstop Tim LeCompte (Philadelphia, Pa./Roman Catholic) had an RBI sac fly.

Scranton tacked on a run in the fifth on an RBI fielder's choice by freshman outfielder Ray Grapsy (Covington Township, N.J./North Pocono) before FDU-Florham (1-2) rallied with three runs in the bottom of the fifth to cut the Royals' lead to 5-4.

But Scranton regained control with three runs of its own in the sixth on an RBI single by sophomore first baseman Ross Danzig (Clarks Summit, Pa./Abington Heights/Blair Academy, N.J.), and RBI double by junior outfielder Michael Gaeta (Cranford, N.J./Cranford) and an RBI single from Pizzico.

Sophomore right-hander Josh Bayzick (Sugarloaf, Pa./Hazleton Area) allowed just one hit over the final 2 1/3 innings for his first career save. Gaeta and Trabulsi each finished with a pair of hits in the win.

In the second game, the Royals jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the first inning on a two-out, two-run single by sophomore outfielder Zach Dignam (Bridgewater, N.J./Immaculata). But the Devils scored five times in the third to take control, added a run in the fifth and two more in the sixth.

Scranton got an RBI fielder's choice from Pizzico in the seventh to cap the scoring. He finished with a pair of hits in the loss, as did Dignam and LeCompte.

The Royals will be back in action next weekend when they go on the road to face York (Pa.) in a single game on Saturday, March 9, at 1:30 p.m. 

--ROYALS--