FORT PIERCE, Fla. – The University of Scranton baseball team scored four times in the top of the eighth inning to slip past Gettysburg, 5-4, on Thursday morning in the final game of the team's spring break trip.

The Royals (4-0) trailed 4-1 after seven innings after Gettysburg (1-8) scored twice in the first and third innings, sandwiching Scranton's single run in the second.

The decisive eighth inning when Scranton used a pair of walks and a single to load the bases with one out. Sophomore second baseman Brandon Peters (Peckville, Pa./Valley View) and senior pinch hitter Anthony Caladie (Mountain Top, Pa./Crestwood) both picked up RBIs on bases-loaded walks to cut the deficit to 4-3.

Senior shortstop Justin Howell (Millington, N.J./Watchung Hills) followed with an RBI sac fly to tie the game, but the Royals didn't stop there. Senior center fielder Tommy Trotter (Cranford, N.J./Cranford) followed with a two-out, go-ahead RBI single to complete the rally.

While the bats caused the game-changing uprising, it was the Royals' relief pitching that saved the day. Three righties combined on 6 2/3 shutout innings, allowing just two hits and no walks while striking out nine.

Freshman Zack Papillo (Germantown, Md./Good Counsel) came in with the Royals down 4-1 and held the Bullets scoreless for 3 2/3 hitless innings, striking out four. Junior Christian Huckfeldt (Ambler, Pa./Upper Dublin) picked up the win with a shutout seventh inning, allowing one hit and fanning two. Junior Bryan Carmon (Flemington, N.J./Hunterdon Central) finished up for the save, tossing two shutout innings, allowing one hit while striking out three.

Freshman left fielder Connor Harding (Vestal, N.Y./Vestal Central) led the offense with three hits and two runs while Howell finished with two hits and two RBIs.

The baseball team is back in action this weekend when it opens Landmark Conference play at Juniata. The Royals will face the Eagles in a doubleheader on Saturday at 12:30 p.m., and a single game on Sunday at noon.

--ROYALS--