The University of Scranton baseball team had a big day at the plate on Wednesday, but right-hander Sean McNamara (Scarsdale, N.Y./Fordham Prep) needed little offensive support, tossing a shutout in the Royals' 11-0 victory over Merchant Marine Academy at Connell Park.
McNamara allowed just six hits, all singles and did not walk a batter while striking out three. He threw just 78 pitches and allowed just one runner to reach second base. The win was his third of the season and his second complete game, and it was his first shutout of the year.
Scranton (11-12, 6-6 Landmark) jumped ahead right away when sophomore right fielder Chase Standen (Newtown, Pa./St. Joseph's Prep) launched a three-run homer in the bottom of the first, his first round-tripper of the season. The Royals added single runs in the third, fourth and fifth innings, and put the game away with three in the seventh and two in the eighth.
Every player in the starting lineup had a hit for Scranton, and seven had at least two. Sophomore center fielder Tommy Trotter (Cranford, N.J./Cranford), sophomore shortstop Brad Schneider (Ambler, Pa./LaSalle College H.S.) and sophomore second baseman Patrick Mergel (Bethlehem, Pa./Bethlehem Catholic) led the way with three hits each. Trotter's day included a triple, two RBIs and a run, Schneider had two RBIs and a run, and Mergel knocked in a run and scored another.
The Royals, who salvaged the final game of the series after falling to Merchant Marine (8-17, 4-8 Landmark) twice on Sunday, also got a double, three walks, three runs and two stolen bases from senior left fielder Brian Healy (Middletown, N.J./Middletown South). Senior first baseman Zach Dignam (Bridgewater, N.J./Immaculata) had two hits, including the 100th of his career, a run and a stolen base, and freshman third baseman Ian McIntosh (Newtown, Pa./LaSalle College H.S.) had two hits, a run and an RBI.
Scranton will be back in action on Thursday when the Royals travel to Edwardsville, Pa. to face Wilkes in a non-conference game at 4 p.m.
--ROYALS--