The University of Scranton baseball team could not wake its bats from the winter chill that enveloped the area over the weekend, and it contributed to a pair of losses to Merchant Marine Academy on Sunday at Connell Park.

The Royals suffered losses of 11-4 and 9-2 in the sweep by the Mariners, pushing Scranton's losing streak to three, all in Landmark Conference play. Scranton (10-12, 5-6 Landmark) managed just 13 hits on the day, including only three in the second game as Merchant Marine (8-17, 4-7 Landmark) took advantage by rallying from early deficits in both games.

Game 1 – Merchant Marine 11, Scranton 4

Scranton struck first with two runs in the bottom of the first on a two-run double by sophomore center fielder Tommy Trotter (Cranford, N.J./Cranford). But Merchant Marine struck back with three in the top of the second and later took control with a run in the fifth and four in the sixth.

Senior first baseman Zach Dignam (Bridgewater, N.J./Immaculata) finished with three hits, two RBIs and a run for the Royals. Senior Tyler Ferretti (Hillsborough, N.J./Hillsborough) came off the bench to add a single and a double, senior left fielder Brian Healy (Middletown, N.J./Middletown) had a triple, and sophomore shortstop Brad Schneider (Ambler, Pa./LaSalle College H.S.) doubled.

Game 2 – Merchant Marine 9, Scranton 2

Again, the Royals scored twice in the bottom of the first, this time on a two-out, two-run single by junior right fielder Anthony Simone (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Valley Senior). But the Mariners scored twice in both the third and fourth innings, and put the game away with four in the fifth.

Scranton managed just two other hits in the loss – singles by Dignam and sophomore second baseman Justin Howell (Millington, N.J./Watchung Hills).

Scranton will try to salvage the final game of the series when the teams meet on Tuesday at 3:30 p.m. at Connell Park.

--ROYALS--