The second seeded University of Scranton jumped out to an early lead and posted a 7-3 victory over top seed and host Moravian College in the final elimination game of the 2011 Landmark Conference Championship Tournament at Gillespie Field Sunday afternoon.
With the victory, the Royals will face third seed The Catholic University of America in the championship round on Monday at 12:30 p.m. Scranton will need two wins to earn the Landmark Conference's automatic berth to the 2011 NCAA Division III National Championship Tournament while Catholic needs just one victory.
The Greyhounds, who were regionally ranked last week, will need to wait until the NCAA selection show next weekend to see if there season continues. Moravian, which dropped back-to-back games Sunday for the first time this season after winning 15 straight, falls to 31-9 with the loss, a school record for victories.
Scranton jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning when senior outfielder Chris Stallone and sophomore third baseman Richard Pohl drew walks to start the stanza, and Stallone scored from second on a throwing error on an attempted double play.
Moravian would threaten in the top of the second when senior outfielder Mike Zubia walked to leadoff and moved to third on a one-out single by senior third baseman Jon Baltz but a double play by Scranton ended the inning.
The Royals put a runner in scoring position in the bottom half of the second when junior designated hitter Jesse Outhouse doubled with one out; however, he was stranded at third.
Stallone singled to start the bottom of the third for Scranton and senior catcher Jeff Manahan singled with one out before Moravian retired the final two outs.
Scranton extended its lead to 3-0 in the bottom of the fourth inning with a pair of runs. Sophomore outfielder Michael Gaeta led off with a triple, and he scored on an RBI double by Outhouse. After a sacrifice bunt from junior second baseman Matt Rayha, Outhouse scored on an RBI ground out by sophomore shortstop Tim LeCompte.
In the bottom of the fifth, Pohl led off with a single, and was sacrificed to second by Manahan. Senior first baseman David Giglio hit a single to move Pohl to third before a pitching change for the Greyhounds. Senior outfielder Jason Lane then connected on an RBI single to score Pohl and extend the Royals' lead to 4-0. Outhouse hit an infield single with two outs to load the bases but the Greyhounds made the final out to keep any more runs from scoring.
With one out in the top of the sixth, Moravian junior shortstop Dave Zubia connected on a single, his 100th career hit, the 20th player in school history and third this season to reach 100 career hits. Sophomore outfielder Rocco Del Priore followed with a walk, and a wild pitch put the runners at second and third with two outs but Scranton would get out of the inning without allowing a run.
In the bottom of the sixth, Stallone connected on a one-out double and scored on a two-out RBI double from Manahan while Giglio had an RBI single that brought in Manahan and made the Scranton lead 6-0.
Moravian would get on the scoreboard with a pair of runs in the top of the seventh inning to cut the Royals' lead to 6-2. Baltz reached on an error with one out, and junior first baseman Greg Steinman walked. Junior catcher Blake Shortall singled to load the bases before freshman pinch hitter Joshua Barfield hit an RBI sacrifice fly to score Baltz. Dave Zubia would follow with an RBI double to score Steinman. However, Scranton would get the final out to end Moravian's rally.
LeCompte led off the bottom of the eighth with a double off the top of the fence in left centerfield, and Stallone sacrificed him to third. LeCompte would score on an RBI fielder's choice hit by Manahan to make it 7-2, but the Royals left the bases loaded.
In the top of the ninth, senior pinch hitter Matthew Kensecki hit a two-out, solo homer to right field, his second home run of the season.
The Royals had a 15-8 advantage in hits with Outhouse going three-for-four with an RBI. Giglio was three-for-five with an RBI while Stallone was two-for-three with two RBIs. Manahan and Lane were both two-for-five with Manahan adding two RBIs and Lane driving in one. Shortall, pictured at right, and Mike Zubia were two-for-three to lead Moravian while Dave Zubia went two-for-four with an RBI.
Junior Corey Gorman earned the win on the mound for Scranton, allowing two unearned runs on six hits and three walks while striking out eight batters in seven innings of action. Freshman Christopher Rom finished the game with a run on two hits to go with four strikeouts in two innings of work.
Greyhound freshman pitcher Jonathan Harasin took the loss after giving up four runs, three earned, on seven hits and two walks to go with three strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings of action. Junior Kyle Longernecker tossed the final 3 2/3 innings with three runs on eight hits to go with four strikeouts.
