WASHINGTON, D.C. – The University of Scranton baseball team got off to a strong start in the Landmark Conference playoffs on Saturday, defeating top-seeded Catholic University, 5-4, in a first-round game at Talbot Field on the campus of Catholic University.
The victory puts the Royals (22-18) in the winners' bracket where they will play the winner of Saturday's second game – second-seeded Moravian College vs. third-seeded Merchant Marine Academy – on Sunday at 12:30 p.m.
Scranton scored three times in the top of the first and maintained that three-run lead at 5-2 heading into the ninth. But Catholic (25-16) rallied to score twice in the bottom of the ninth and had the bases loaded with two outs. But Royals starter Bobby Della Polla (Havertown, Pa./St. Joseph's Preparatory) finished the job, getting a weak ground ball to second base to end the game and put the Royals in the winners' bracket for the first time in three Landmark Conference playoff appearances.
Della Polla allowed four runs, all earned, on six hits and four walks while striking out 11. He also hit a batter while picking up his seventh win of the season and 16th of his career. He is also one strikeout shy of 200 for his career.
Scranton took control right away, scoring three times in the first inning with the aid of a pair of Catholic errors. Leadoff hitter Michael Umerich (Clarks Summit, Pa./Abington Heights) was hit by a pitch, then the Cardinals made a throwing error on a bunt attempt to put runners on the corners with nobody out. Sophomore first baseman Ross Danzig (Clarks Summit, Pa./Abington Heights/Blair Academy, N.J.) then hit a sharp grounder to third, but the Cardinals' third baseman hesitated making a throw and Danzig was safe to load the bases.
Junior center fielder Michael Gaeta (Cranford, N.J./Cranford) then hit a ground ball to short, but the throw on the double play turn sailed past the first baseman and two runners scored to put the Royals on the board. A single by senior shortstop Tim LeCompte (Philadelphia, Pa./Roman Catholic) followed by a ground out put runners on second and third with two outs. Gaeta then scored on a wild pitch to put Scranton up, 3-0.
The Cardinals got a run back in the second on a solo homer by senior catcher Mark Kalokaitis (Hamilton, N.J./Steinert).
The teams then traded runs in the fifth. Gaeta's RBI fielder's choice grounder put Scranton up, 4-1, but the Cardinals cut the lead to two on an RBI ground out by junior right fielder Michael Parco (Clarksville, Md./River Hill).
The Royals added an insurance run in the seventh that would turn out to be the difference. With two outs and nobody on base, Gaeta was hit by a pitch, then moved all the way to third on consecutive wild pitches. LeCompte then struck out on all in the dirt, but beat the throw to first as Gaeta came across to score for a 5-2 lead.
LeCompte finished with two hits and an RBI, Danzig had two hits and scored a run, and Gaeta had three RBIs in the victory. Maghini also had a hit and scored twice.
The victory was Scranton's fourth straight over Catholic after sweeping the regular season three-game series last weekend.
In two previous appearances in the Landmark Conference playoffs in 2008 and 2011, the Royals lost their first-round game on the opening day before rallying to win twice the next day to reach the championship. Needing to win twice at that point, they lost in the first game both years.
A win in Sunday's game at 12:30 p.m. would put the Royals into Monday's championship. A loss would bump them to a losers' bracket game on Sunday at 4 p.m.
--ROYALS--