Here is a weekly wrap-up of University of Scranton athletic events. To see the full Royal Review release, visit http://matrix.scranton.edu/athletics/gnapr182011.shtml.

Baseball (12-14/7-5 Landmark Conference)
The baseball team swept a three-game Landmark Conference series against Drew University during the period to move into third place in the standings with just two weeks remaining in the regular season.

The Royals opened the period with a convincing 16-4 victory over Marywood University on Thursday, April 14, at Pacer Field in Scranton. Sophomore pitcher Matt Mosko (Hillsborough, N.J./Hillsborough) and senior reliever John Rogers (Allenhurst, N.J./Red Bank Catholic) combined on a five-hitter and seniors Chris Stallone (South Plainfield, N.J./South Plainfield) and Jason Lane (Moosic/Riverside) combined for eight hits and five RBI.

The Royals also got strong pitching performances from sophomore Robert Della Polla (Havertown/St. Joseph’s Preparatory) and juniors Rocky Sawyer (Bethlehem/Liberty) and Corey Gorman (Laflin/Coughlin) against Drew.

Della Polla allowed just two hits and struck out seven batters in eight innings as Scranton opened the series with a 13-1 victory Friday afternoon at Connell Park. In the first game of a doubleheader on Sunday, April 17, Sawyer struck out a career-high 11 batters and allowed just three hits in a 12-0 victory. 

Gorman completed the sweep by striking out 11 batters and allowing only two hits and one earned run in a 3-2 win in the nightcap, which the Royals pulled out by scoring three times in their final at-bat. Seniors David Giglio (Wallingford, Conn./Xavier) and Jeff Manahan (Morris Plains, N.J./Morristown) drove in the game-tying and game-winning runs, respectively, with two-out singles.

Men’s Golf (6-0)
The men’s golf team opened the week in dramatic fashion, winning a one-hole, four-score playoff with McDaniel College to capture the Glenmaura National Collegiate Invitational championship at Glenmaura National Golf Club in Moosic. The Royals and McDaniel each shot a 36-hole total of 608.

In the playoff that took place on the par-4, 327-yard 18th hole, Scranton shot a three-under-par 13, including birdies from freshman Charles Hudacek (Moosic/Scranton Preparatory) and sophomores Chris Riley (Haymarket, Va./Battlefield) and Chris Schank (Dunmore/Scranton Preparatory), to win its first-ever Glenmaura title. Hudacek, Schank and senior Brad Sparks (Forest City/Forest City Regional) each posted top-10 finishes.

On Saturday and Sunday, April 16-17, the Royals took part in the final two rounds of the 2011 Empire 8 Conference championships at the Woodstone Country Club in Danielsville. 

Scranton shot 656 to finish fourth in the 8-team field with 1284 strokes, just two behind Susquehanna University for third place and six shy of runner-up Moravian College.  St. John Fisher won the team title with 1239 strokes.

Sophomore Jamie Bresnahan (Exeter/Wyoming Area) carded a final round four-over-par 76 tie for second place for the individual title with a 311, just five strokes behind champion Tyler McArdell of St. John Fisher.   Bresnahan’s performance earned him first-team all-Empire 8 Conference honors.  Schank was next in the lineup for the Royals, placing 11th overall, followed by Hudacek and Sparks in 13th and 16th, respectively.
 
Men’s Lacrosse (5-7/1-2 Landmark Conference)
The men’s lacrosse team suffered a 9-5 decision to Susquehanna University in Landmark Conference action on Saturday, April 16, at Fitzpatrick Field.

Scranton, which has lost its last three games by a combined total of six goals, was led by junior midfielder Mike Rufo (Broomall/Haverford School) with two goals and junior midfielder Matt Glenn (Jamison/Central Bucks East), junior attacker Daniel Slade (Doylestown/Central Bucks South), and sophomore attacker Taylor Nelson (Chester Springs/Downingtown East) finished with one apiece. 

Women’s Lacrosse (9-3/2-0 Landmark Conference)
The women’s lacrosse team remained undefeated in Landmark Conference play with a 15-11 victory over Susquehanna University on Wednesday, April 13, in Selinsgrove.

The Royals held the Crusaders to just three goals in the final 30 minutes of play to erase an 8-7 halftime deficit.

Junior attacker Kaela Mahon (Avon-by-the Sea, N.J./Saint Rose) scored a career-high five goals and senior defender Katie Slade (Buckingham/Central Bucks East), senior attacker Caroline Pryor (Robbinsville, N.J./Notre Dame) and sophomore midfielder Jilliana DePaolera (Kinnelon, N.J./Kinnelon) finished with two apiece as the Royals won their ninth straight game, their longest winning streak since 2004.

That streak, unfortunately, came to a close with a 9-6 loss to Rowan University on Saturday, April 16, at Fitzpatrick Field.  The game was delayed five times due to lightning detected in the local area and was eventually called off with 5:23 remaining in the second half.  First-year attacker Kerry Sullivan (Oceanport, N.J./Shore Regional) and Slade scored two goals apiece and Pryor finished with a goal and three assists.

Softball (13-7/4-2 Landmark)
The softball team swept a non-conference doubleheader from Lycoming College on Thursday, April 14, in Montoursville to open the week.

In the first game, sophomore pitcher Samantha Boccolini (Rockaway, N.J./Morris Hills) did not allow an earned run and senior Annie Zeleniak (Taylor/Scranton Preparatory) and junior Tia Dimou (Center Valley/Southern Lehigh) each drove in a run in the top of the third inning en route to a 2-1 victory.

Junior pitcher Christine Capalbo (Mamaroneck, N.Y./Mamaroneck) tossed a five-hitter and Zeleniak finished with three hits and drove in three runs as the Royals won the nightcap, 7-1.

On Friday, April 15, the Royals split a Landmark Conference doubleheader against Catholic University at the Jessup Youth Sports Association Complex in Jessup.

The Cardinals belted out 10 hits, including a pair of home runs by Tracy Stockinger, to win the first game, 9-3. 

In the second game, Dimou scored the winning run in the bottom of the eighth inning from second base on a wild pitch and a throwing error as Scranton pulled out a 4-3 victory.

Zeleniak wiped away an early 1-0 Catholic lead by belting her team-leading fourth home run of the season, a two-run shot.  She also played a vital role in Scranton’s third run, leading off the fifth inning with her 11th double of the year, advancing to third on a single by Dimou and eventually scoring on a single by sophomore Kristen Williams (Monroe, N.Y./Monroe Woodbury). 

Men’s Tennis (8-3/5-0 Landmark)
The men’s tennis team swept the six singles matches en route to  a 7-2 victory over Moravian College in Landmark Conference action on Friday, April 18, in Bethlehem.

Sophomore Mike Pannone (Maplewood, N.J./Seton Hall Preparatory) won both of his matches, teaming with sophomore Bennett Kelley (Pennington, N.J./Hopewell Valley Central) to record an 8-2 victory over Stefan Apostolos and Thomas Turcich, 8-2, at the number three doubles.  He and Kelley have now won their last three doubles matches to improve to 7-5 on the season. 

In singles, Pannone won his fourth straight match and improved to 9-5 on the year with a 0-6, 6-0, 6-1 victory over Turcich at six.  

Scranton also received wins in singles from senior Carl Caceres (Teaneck, N.J./Bergen Catholic) and sophomores Tim McGurrin (Clarks Summit/Scranton Preparatory), Joe Morra (Bronx, N.Y./Fordham Preparatory) and Jonathan Russo (Madison, N.J./Madison), and freshman David Teres (Lebanon, N.J./North Hunterdon).

The Royals also blanked the Merchant Marine Academy, 9-0, in Landmark action on Saturday, April 16, in Kings Point, N.Y., for their eighth straight win.

Women’s Tennis (4-8/2-2 Landmark)
The women’s tennis team had a two-match winning streak snapped with a 6-3 loss to Moravian College on Thursday, April 14, in Bethlehem.

Senior Danielle Wylie (Schnecksville/Parkland) won both of her matches.  She teamed with  junior Elisha Connell (Orangeburg, N.Y./Albertus Magnus) to defeat Stephanie Cox and Kerry McKinley, 8-5, at the number two doubles.  In singles, Wylie improved to 7-4 on the season with a 6-2, 6-2 victory over Katie Zien at four.

Scranton’s other win was recorded by junior Caitlin Ehly (Philadelphia/Saint Basil Academy), who downed Erica Venuti, 6-1, 7-6 (10-7), at the number six singles. Ehly has now won her last three matches to even her season record at 6-6.

Monday, April 18
Women’s Tennis – at Wilkes (3:30 p.m.)

Tuesday, April 19
Men’s Tennis – DREW (POLY-HI TENNIS COURTS, 3 P.M.)
Women’s Tennis - DREW (POLY-HI TENNIS COURTS, 3 P.M.)

Wednesday, April 20
Golf – KINGS & MISERICORDIA (GLENMAURA NATIONAL GOLF CLUB, MOOSIC, 1 P.M.)
Softball - at Moravian (3 p.m.)

Thursday, April 21
Women’s Lacrosse – DREW (FITPZATRICK FIELD, 7 P.M.)

Friday, April 22
Baseball - CATHOLIC (DH, CONNELL PARK, 1 P.M.)

Saturday, April 23
Baseball - CATHOLIC (CONNELL PARK, 11 A.M.)
Softball - SUSQUEHANNA (JESSUP YOUTH SOCCER ASSOCIATION COMPLEX, 1 P.M.)
Men’s Lacrosse - GOUCHER (FITZPATRICK FIELD, 1 P.M.)
Men’s Tennis – GOUCHER (POLY-HI TENNIS COURTS, 1 P.M.)
Women’s Tennis - GOUCHER (POLY-HI TENNIS COURTS, NOON)