PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. – The University of Scranton baseball team opened its spring break trip to Florida on Saturday by splitting a pair of games.  The Royals (1-3) rebounded from a 27-8 setback to fifth-ranked Swarthmore in Saturday's opener to defeat Marietta 6-4 in the nightcap for their first victory of the season.

Game 1 vs. Swarthmore

In Saturday's opener against Swarthmore, the Garnet (1-1), who are ranked fifth in the country, scored the first eight runs of the game and broke it open with a 13-run seventh inning.

Trailing 8-0 in the bottom of the fifth, junior Brandon Peters (Peckville, Pa./Valley View) got the Royals on the board with a solo home run before Scranton scored their second run on an RBI groundout by sophomore Connor Harding (Vestal, N.Y./Vestal).

After Swarthmore scored in the top of the sixth, sophomore Kyler McAllister (Jefferson Township, Pa./Scranton Prep) connected on an RBI base hit and later scored on a wild pitch to make it a 9-4 ballgame in the bottom of the frame, but the Garnet put the game out of reach with their 13-run onslaught in the visitor's seventh.

Freshman Chris Wagner (Westfield, N.J./Westfield) drove in the final four runs of the game for Scranton, connecting on a three-run home run in the seventh inning before adding an RBI single in the ninth inning.

Peters and Wagner led the Royals with two hits apiece in the contest. 

Game 2 vs. Marietta

Scranton scored four runs in the first two innings of Saturday nightcap against Marietta and made it them stand as the Royals defeated the Pioneers (0-2) 6-4 for their first victory of the season.

Harding led off the game with a home run and Scranton added three more runs in the second inning on RBI double from Peters, who later scored on a wild pitch, and a sacrifice fly from junior Travis Adams (Clark, N.J./St. Joseph's Metuchen).

Marietta scored three runs in the bottom of the third to make it a 4-3 ballgame before Adams stole home in the top of the seventh to give the Royals a two-run edge.

The Pioneers pulled back to within a run in the home eighth, but Adams again swiped home on a double-steal with Harding to wrap up the scoring.

Junior starter Kyle Bravin (Washington Township, N.J./Westwood Regional) struck out four batters in  four innings on the mound before being replaced by senior Pat Rohr (Audubon, Pa./Devon Prep), who picked up the win with a pair of scoreless innings and two K's.

Senior Bryan Carmon (Flemington, N.J./Hunterdon Central) pitched the final three innings, yielding one run while fanning three batters to pick up the save.

Harding led Scranton with two hits against Marietta while Adams stole three bases in the victory.

Up Next

Scranton will take on Bridgewater St. tomorrow afternoon at 12:00 p.m. at Charlotte High School in Punta Gorda, Fla.

--ROYALS--