Scranton Outlasts DeSales In Extra Innings

SCRANTON, Pa. - Sophomore Chris Bligh (Jersey City, N.J./St. Peter's Preparatory) came through in the clutch for The University of Scranton in an 8-7 victory in 13 innings against former Freedom Conference rival DeSales University Tuesday afternoon at Connell Park.

With one out in the bottom of the ninth, Bligh hit his team-leading fifth home run of the season to tie the game at 7-7. The Royals, now 17-8, pulled it out in the bottom of the 13th, when freshman Jon Psihoules (Washington Township, N.J./Westwood), pinch-runner for freshman pinch-hitter David Giglio (Wallingford, Conn./Xavier), who singled, stole second-base, advanced to third on a wild pitch, and scored on a throwing error. With the loss, DeSales falls to 13-16-1.

In a game that featured a combined 27 hits by the two teams, DeSales jumped out 3-0 in the second inning on a solo home run by junior Zachary Hess (Harleysville, Pa./LaSalle College), an RBI double by junior Greg Treat (Concord, N.H./Concord) and an RBI on a fielder's choice by junior Nick Repas (Abingdon, Md./Bel Air).

Trailing 4-2 in the sixth, the Royals bounced back with a four-run rally in the sixth that included a solo home run by senior Andrew Outhouse (Croton Falls, N.Y./North Salem), his second of the season, and a two-run single by junior Chris Psihoules (Washington Township, N.J./Westwood). Outhouse also drove in Scranton's first run in the third with a single and fellow senior Chris Doyle (Hilton Head Island, S.C./Regis Jesuit) opened the fourth with a home run, his first of the year.

Hess came through again for the Bulldogs in the seventh, sparking a three-run rally by driving in two runs with a single as DeSales took its last lead, 7-6. He finished with three hits and three RBI and Repas and Newland chipped in two apiece.

The Royals got strong pitching performances from juniors Kyle Fox (Scranton, Pa./Bishop Hannan) and Mike Sidlowski (New York, N.Y./Xavier). Fox came on in the ninth inning and struck out three batters and did not allow a hit in three innings, while Sidlowski earns his second win of the season by not allowing hit and striking out two in the final two innings.

Scranton will take on another former Freedom Conference rival, King's College, when the two teams meet tomorrow afternoon at 4:00 p.m. at Connell Park.