APRIL 21, 2006
SCRANTON OUT SLUGS KING'S 12-11 IN BASEBALL ACTION
WILKES-BARRE -- The University of Scranton baseball team overcame a 7-4
deficit with a six-run seventh inning and held off a late King's College
rally as the visiting Royals registered a 12-11 victory Friday at
Betzler Fields.
With the win, Scranton improved to 11-16 overall and 4-7 in MAC Freedom
Conference play. King's, which hurt itself with six critical errors in
the contest, slipped to 17-12 and 11-5 in league action.
King's took a 4-0 first inning lead on the strength of a two-run triple
from Nick Sorino, an RBI double by Rob Medlock, and a run-scoring single
off the bat of Mike Venarchick. Scranton would counter with three runs
in the third inning when Chris Psihoules, Nick Costanzo, and Andrew
Outhouse all delivered RBI singles to cut the King's lead to 4-3.
The Royals would then knot the score in the fifth inning when John
Sheehan was hit by a pitch and eventually scored from third on an
infield out by Kevin Johnson.
King's responded with three runs in the bottom half of the fifth inning
when Nick Sorino singled, Rob Medlock doubled, and Josh Faust followed
with a two-run single. Jon Venarchick would then come through with an
RBI single as King's recaptured a 7-4 lead.
After a scoreless sixth inning, Scranton would break the game open in
the seventh frame. Jason Feairheller stroked a two-run, two-out single.
Mike Graziano followed with an RBI double, and Michael Cottone delivered
a two-run single. The Royals would add two more runs on back-to-back
errors to take a 10-7 lead as the Monarchs committed three costly
miscues in the inning.
The Royals would add two more runs in the eighth when Costanzo walked
and Feairheller walked. Graziano would then follow with an RBI single
before Feairheller scored on another King's error to take a 12-7 lead.
King's would chip away in the bottom of the eighth when Caleb Calarco
singled and Matt Livoy walked Calarco would score from third on an
infield out by Jeremy Faust and Livoy later scored on a wild pitch as
the Monarchs closed to within 12-9.
After the Royals failed to score in the top of the ninth inning, King's
would look to rally when leadoff hitter Josh Faust was hit by a pitch,
Matt Colgan walked, and Calarco delivered an RBI single to centerfield
to cut the lead to 12-10. Pinch hitter Jeff Wells would then loft a
sacrifice fly to right field to plate Colgan as the Monarchs closed to
within 12-11 with two outs.
The comeback would fall short, however, as Jeremy Faust lined out to
left field to end the game.
The teams combined for 23 runs on 33 base hits. King's registered 17
base hits while Scranton posted 16 on the day.
Graziano was 5-for-6 with two doubles and two RBI while Outhouse was
4-for-6 with an RBI. Cottone, and Costanzo chipped in with two hits each
to help aid the Scranton attack.
Sorino led King's by going 4-for-4 with a double, triple, and two RBI.
Josh Faust was 3-for-4 with two RBI. Calarco, John Venarchick, Mike
Venarchick, and Medlock added two hits each.
Kyle Fox picked up the win for Scranton in relief of starter Kevin
McGrath, tossing two and two-third innings, allowing two earned runs on
three hits. John Gennaoui registered the save, pitching the final one
and two-thirds innings, allowing two runs on two hits.
Calarco was the losing pitcher for King's in relief, yielding seven
runs, five earned, on six hits in two innings. Monarch starter Tim
Granquist pitched the first four innings, allowing four runs, before
Josh Faust entered the game and tossed two innings, yielding one run.
King's and Scranton are slated to conclude their three-game series
Saturday at 1:00 p.m. at Connell Park in Scranton.
