SELINSGROVE, Pa. – Junior lefty Michael Haag (Ossining, N.Y./Ossining/Brighton Academy) tossed a complete-game four-hitter to lead The University of Scranton to a 7-1 win over Susquehanna in the second game of their Landmark Conference doubleheader on Saturday at Bollinger Field. 

Susquehanna (23-11, 14-3 Landmark) rallied to win the opener, 4-2, keeping the Royals (15-16, 9-8 Landmark) from picking up a key sweep. The split keeps Scranton in fourth place, a game out of third and a game ahead of fifth, with four left.

Game One – Susquehanna 4, Scranton 2

Scranton struck first in what was a pitchers' duel for the first three innings, scoring twice in the fourth on RBI singles by sophomore shortstop Brad Schneider (Ambler, Pa./LaSalle College H.S.) and junior catcher Dan Hansen (Helena, Mont./Helena). The Royals had a chance to extend the lead, but Hansen was thrown out at the plate on a base hit to end the inning. 

Susquehanna broke through for two runs in the fifth to knot the score, and scored twice more in the sixth to take the opener. Sophomore lefty Brian Markowski (Mountain Top, Pa./Crestwood) went the distance while suffering the loss, allowing four runs on six hits while walking two and striking out three.

Game Two – Scranton 7, Susquehanna 1

Haag was impressive against the conference's top offensive team, allowing only a solo home run in the second inning. He struck out five and walked one, and he allowed just one hit after the third inning, retiring eight straight at one point. 

The Royals broke the game open in the fourth, scoring three times to break a 1-1 tie. They added three more in the top of the fifth, and it was more than enough for Haag. Sophomore center fielder Tommy Trotter (Cranford, N.J./Cranford) doubled, singled twice and drove in three runs, and senior left fielder Brian Healy (Middletown, N.J./Middletown South) had three singles and an RBI.

Junior right fielder Anthony Simone (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Valley Senior) singled, tripled, walked twice and scored twice, sophomore shortstop Brad Schneider (Ambler, Pa./LaSalle College H.S.) doubled, drove in two and scored twice, senior first baseman Zach Dignam (Bridgewater, N.J./Immaculata) singled twice and scored twice, and sophomore second baseman Justin Howell (Millington, N.J./Watchung Hills) singled twice, drove in a run and scored another. 

The teams will complete the three-game series with the final game set to start Sunday at 12:30 p.m. at Bollinger Field.

--ROYALS--