OWINGS MILLS, Md. – The University of Scranton baseball team picked up its first win of the season by rallying for a 5-4 victory over sixth-ranked Frostburg State on Sunday at Stevenson University. The Royals dropped the second game, 4-3, to the host school.
In the win over Frostburg, the Royals (1-3) trailed 4-1 going to the bottom of the seventh inning, but scored four times in the frame and then held the Bobcats (6-2) scoreless over the final two innings.
In the critical seventh inning, sophomore infielder Brad Schneider (Ambler, Pa./LaSalle College H.S.) led off with a single and moved to second on a one-out single by junior shortstop Patrick O'Dell (Phoenixville, Pa./St. Joseph's Prep). Both moved up a base on a ground out for the second out, but senior outfielder Zach Dignam (Bridgewater, N.J./Immaculata) delivered a two-run single to cut the deficit to 4-3.
Senior outfielder Brian Healy (Middletown, N.J./Middletown South) followed with a walk, and junior designated hitter Anthony Simone (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Valley Senior) was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Freshman Patrick Mergel (Bethlehem, Pa./Bethlehem Catholic) then came off the bench to deliver the go-ahead, pinch-hit, two-run single for a 5-4 lead.
Junior right-hander Sean McNamara (Scarsdale, N.Y./Fordham Prep) picked up the victory with 4 2/3 innings of scoreless relief. He allowed just two hits. O'Dell and Schneider each finished with a pair of hits.
In the second game, Stevenson scored twice in the bottom of the ninth to pull out the 4-3 win. Scranton had taken the lead in the top of the ninth when junior first baseman Alex Muggeo (Harrington Park, N.J./St. Joseph Regional) delivered a two-out RBI single.
The Royals also received an RBI sac fly from Mergel in the first inning and an RBI single by Healy in the seventh. O'Dell and Schneider, who doubled, again finished with two hits apiece. Sophomore lefty Brian Markowski (Mountain Top, Pa./Crestwood) worked three shutout innings of relief, allowing three hits and walking one.
Scranton will be back in action on Thursday, March 10, when the Royals begin a six-game, four-day trip in Myrtle Beach, S.C. by taking on Penn State-Berks at 3 p.m.
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