MADISON, N.J. – Junior closer Bryan Carmon (Flemington, N.J./Hunterdon Central) pitched out of bases-loaded jams in the final inning of both games as The University of Scranton baseball team swept a Landmark Conference doubleheader at Drew on Saturday, winning 6-4 in both games.
Carmon picked up his fourth and fifth saves of the season by stranding the bases loaded in both games. The wins put the Royals (13-13, 5-4 Landmark) into the thick of the Landmark Conference playoff race. They currently sit in a tie for third with half of their conference games remaining.
Game 1 – Scranton 6, Drew 4 – box score
Carmon entered the game in the bottom of the seventh with the Royals leading 6-3 with the bases loaded and no outs. He gave up an RBI fielder's choice for the first out, then got a fly out for the second out before allowing a walk to re-load the bases. But he got another fly out to end the game.
The Royals overcame a 3-0 deficit after the first inning by scoring four times in the second and twice more in the seventh. In the second-inning uprising, senior shortstop Justin Howell (Millington, N.J./Watchung Hills) had a two-run single, senior center fielder Tommy Trotter (Cranford, N.J./Cranford) had an RBI single and senior catcher Kevin Nolan (Ossining, N.Y./Fordham Prep) drove in a run when he was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.
In the sixth inning, the Royals got insurance runs when sophomore first baseman Kevin Haag (Ossining, N.Y./Ossining/Bridgton Academy) had an RBI bunt single and later scored on a passed ball.
Haag finished with three hits, two runs and an RBI to lead the offense. Senior lefty Brian Markowski (Mountain Top, Pa./Crestwood) earned his third win by allowing four runs on nine hits and a walk while fanning four in six-plus innings.
Game 2 – Scranton 6, Drew 4 – box score
The Royals again took a 6-3 lead into the final half-inning, this time the bottom of the ninth, before Drew (15-15, 5-6 Landmark) rallied. But the Rangers' rallied to score a run on the strength of a double, two walks and an error. Carmon came in with the bases loaded and two outs and got a strikeout looking to end the day.
Scranton scored twice in the fourth when senior third baseman Patrick Mergel (Bethlehem, Pa./Bethlehem Catholic) drove in a run when he reached on an error and sophomore second baseman Brandon Peters (Peckville, Pa./Valley View) had an RBI single.
After Drew got a run in the bottom of the fourth, the Royals struck three times in the fifth. Mergel and Peters had back-to-back RBI singles after senior right fielder Chase Standen (Newtown Square, Pa./St. Joseph's Prep) drove in a run with a sacrifice fly.
Drew pulled within 5-3 after seven innings, but the Royals got an insurance run in the eighth on an RBI single by senior designated hitter Brad Schneider (Ambler, Pa./LaSalle College H.S.).
Peters finished with three hits and two RBIs and freshman left fielder Connor Harding (Vestal, N.Y./Vestal Central) singled twice, doubled and scored a run. Standen singled, doubled, drove in a run and scored a run, Schneider singled twice, drove in a run and scored a run, and Trotter had two hits, a run and a stolen base. He now has 199 career hits, one shy of becoming the second player on record in Scranton baseball history with 200 career hits.
Sophomore righty Bobby Hegarty (Wantagh, N.Y./Wantagh) earned his second win by working eight innings, allowing four runs, all earned, on 10 hits and two walks while striking out six.
The Royals and Rangers will play the final game of their three-game series on Sunday beginning at noon.
--ROYALS--