HUNTINGDON, Pa. – The University of Scranton baseball team scored five times in the first inning and didn't look back en route to an 11-5 victory over Juniata College in a Landmark Conference game Wednesday at Langdon-Goodale Field. 

Scranton (17-10, 6-3) had 15 hits and five players finished with at least two, led by senior shortstop Tim LeCompte (Philadelphia, Pa./Roman Catholic), who went 3-for-5 with a run and two RBIs.

The Royals also received a single and double from junior designated hitter Eric Pizzico (Royersford, Pa./Spring Ford) and two singles apiece from senior catcher Michael Amaturo (Rye, N.Y./Rye), senior right fielder Greg Monastra (West Chester, Pa./Cardinal O'Hara) and freshman left fielder Ray Grapsy (Covington Township, Pa./North Pocono). Amaturo finished with three RBIs, Monastra had two and also scored twice. 

Scranton jumped ahead with five runs, all with two outs, in the first inning. Amaturo and Monastra each had two-run singles in the inning.

The Royals added another run in the second inning, then rode the right arm of sophomore Luke Sheehan (Bel Air, Md./Loyola Blakefield) into the late innings. Sheehan picked up the win, allowing five runs, four earned, on eight hits and a walk while striking out four in 7 2/3 innings. Sophomore righty Jimmy Sawyer (Bethlehem, Pa./Liberty) worked the final 1 1/3 innings without allowing a hit. 

Scranton added two runs in the seventh, two in the eighth and one in the ninth to hold off the Eagles (8-19, 4-8 Landmark), who tried to rally with a run in the seventh and four in the eighth.

The Royals now sit in a first-place tie atop the conference standings, matching Catholic at 6-3 at the halfway point. 

Scranton returns to action on Saturday, April 13, when the Royals travel to Bethlehem, Pa. for a Landmark Conference doubleheader against Moravian College beginning at 1 p.m.

--ROYALS--