There's an old axiom in baseball – and most sports – that says when teams find themselves in a slugfest, the team that hits last has the advantage. The University of Scranton baseball team proved that theory to be true, at least on Tuesday at Connell Park.
The Royals walked off with a 17-16 victory over Wilkes on an RBI sacrifice fly in the bottom of the ninth by sophomore third baseman Ian McIntosh (Newtown, Pa./LaSalle College H.S.). The Royals (10-14) won it after scoring twice in the seventh and once in the eighth to tie the game at 16. McIntosh's sac fly drove in junior right fielder Ryan Coonahan (Oreland, Pa./LaSalle College H.S.), who was hit by a pitch leading off and scampered to third on a hit-and-run single by junior catcher Kevin Nolan (Ossining, N.Y./Fordham Prep).
The back-and-forth game saw the teams combine for 11 runs in the first inning and 22 in the first three. Scranton led 7-4 after an inning and 13-9 after three, but Wilkes (6-16) scored seven runs from the fourth through sixth innings while holding the Royals scoreless to take a 16-13 lead.
In addition to the offensive outburst and the dramatic win, the game also featured a Landmark Conference record. Royals freshman first baseman Kevin Haag (Ossining, N.Y./Ossining/Bridgton Academy) was hit by a pitch four times, which is a conference record, surpassing the previous record of three, which happened six times in the conference's first nine seasons. Haag finished the game with a single, four hit by pitches, a walk and three runs scored.
Scranton was led by junior designated hitter Chase Standen (Newtown Square, Pa./St. Joseph's Prep), who finished a double shy of a cycle. He had a three-run homer in the first and a two-run triple in the third en route to finishing 3-for-6 with five RBIs and two runs scored. Junior center fielder Tommy Trotter (Cranford, N.J./Cranford) finished with two hits, two runs and a stolen base, and senior catcher Alex Muggeo (Harrington Park, N.J./St. Joseph's Regional) had a two-run double in the Royals' seven-run first inning.
Senior second baseman Patrick O'Dell (Phoenixville, Pa./St. Joseph's Prep) also came off the bench to single, walk, score two runs and steal two bases. His steal of third base in the bottom of the eighth caused an errant throw that allowed him to score the tying run.
Senior right hander Sean McNamara (Scarsdale, N.Y./Fordham Prep) worked the final two innings for the win to improve to 4-2 on the season. He struck out three and did not allow a base runner.
The Royals will return to action on Monday, April 17, when they travel to Annville, Pa. to take on Lebanon Valley in a non-conference game at 3:30 p.m.
--ROYALS--