Scranton Takes Two from Knights at Diamond Nation

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 FLEMINGTON, N.J.: Arcadia University Baseball hit the road this afternoon to take on the University of Scranton Royals in non-conference play at Diamond Nation. Following a 10-0 loss in the opener, Arcadia nearly pulled off a split following a game-tying, three-run fifth, but for a walk-off ninth inning grand slam for Scranton to give the Royals a doubleheader sweep with a 7-3 win in game two.

Two top individual performances by Scranton's Corey Gorman and Sean Butler fueled the Royals in the opener. Gorman scattered 10 strikeouts and allowed two hits and 4 walks through 21 Arcadia batters across five and one-third innings. Butler, would be a thorn in the Knight's side all afternoon. He played a part in 8 of the Royals' 10 runs in game one. He went 4 for 5, scoring 3 runs and driving in 5 more in that game before drilling an extra-innings, walk-off grand slam in the bottom of the ninth on his only hit in game two.

Brandon Martin's lead-off walk for Arcadia in the top of the first led to a steal at second and move to third on a balk by Gorman. With their first of a game-total of 6 runners in scoring position, Arcadia had a chance to strike early but Gorman managed to quickly get it together and reel through batters two through four like a marksman. The Royals plated their first run in the bottom of the first, adding two more in the second and fourth innings before a five-run fifth gave them a 10-0 lead.

Martin earned one of the Knights three hits in today's opener. Kyle Jackson and Brian Innella each added a hit.

Arcadia starter, junior Tyler Guentter, threw two and two-third innings, allowing 3 runs on 6 hits, with 5 walks and 3 strike-outs. Sophomore David Jacobs went one and one-third innings with 4 runs allowed on 6 hits and a walk. After one-third inning, first year Anthony Snover was forced out with 3 runs allowed on 3 hits and 2 walks, relieved by sophomore Taylor Schon for the final two-thirds of the sixth inning.

Onto game two, when two, single-run frames for Scranton in the bottom of the first and fourth gave the Royals a 2-0 advantage the Knights finally broke through with some offense, and took their first lead of the afternoon after a three-run top of the fifth. With Steve Sciortino on third and two-outs away, a wild pitch brought Arcadia's first run across home plate. Senior Mark Bowman was walked and sophomore Justin Simpson hit a line drive to right field putting runners on first and second. Junior Jerry Smith, who sparked the Knights comeback five days earlier against Eastern, then delivered an RBI single to right driving in Bowman. Scranton starter James Swayer took a seat and Matt Mosco entered in relief, pitched a walk to Innella and forced Simpson home putting Arcadia in front 3-2.

Scranton (3-0) knotted the score at 3 in the bottom half of the inning. The game remained scoreless from there and into extra-innings until the Royals broke through with a walk-off grand slam to left field from Butler in the bottom of the ninth. Luke Sheenan, the Royals fourth pitcher of the game, allowed 1 hit and struck out one in the top of the ninth and was credited with the win.

Bowman, Simpson and Snover each registered two hits for the Knights (1-4) in game two. Arcadia starter Jordan Hofferman lasted six and two-third innings, allowing 3 runs on 7 hits and 2 walks while striking out 6. Senior Marc Gottfried entered in relief for one and one-third innings giving up 4 runs on 4 hits and 2 walks while striking out a pair.

The Knights host a pair of non-league games this week before departing to The Cal Ripken Experience in Myrtle Beach, S.C. on Thursday for Spring Break. Valley Forge Christian College visits Erny Field this Tuesday, March 6 (3 p.m.) with Washington College in town on Wednesday, March 7 (2:30 p.m.).

Print Friendly Version