4/27/24
 
SCRANTON, Pa. – Lackawanna College baseball scored nine runs through the first three innings, eventually pulling out an 11-1 run-rule victory through seven innings against Delaware Tech CC on Saturday afternoon at Scranton HS baseball field.
 
The Falcons (24-21, 10-5) fell behind to Delaware Tech (14-30, 3-12) in the first inning on an error, but jumped in front in the bottom frame, thanks to a David Baltrusaitis (Sophomore; Tunkhannock, PA) RBI-single, plus an error on a throw-back to first that allowed the go-ahead run to score. The Falcons added three more in the second, two coming on a two-run homerun from Louis Kegerreis (Redshirt First Year; Murrysville, PA), and Lackawanna got another four runs in the third, three coming on a bases-clearing double from Brooks Henderson IV (First Year; Feasterville, PA), and the fourth run courtesy of a Nick Matson (Redshirt First Year; Nanticoke, PA) solo homer. Leading 10-1 in the seventh, Michael Rickert (First Year; Moosic, PA) ended things early with a run-scoring infield single, legging it out with two-outs and bringing Matson home to close the game.
 
Jace Cunnane (Sophomore; Clarkstown, NY) picked up the win, his third of the season, giving up just the one run on three hits with four strikeouts in five innings. Nathan Russell (Sophomore; Drexel Hill, PA) helped make that stand up, striking out four and only allowing one hit through two innings of relief. Rickert and Aydan McNelly (Sophomore; Limerick, PA) each had two hits, and Henderson led the way with a 3-for-4 showing with three RBI. Rickert had two runs scored, and Kegerreis drove in three for the Falcons.
 
A leadoff double got things started for Delaware Tech, and a one-out walk, followed by a passed ball, let that leadoff batter come home to score and make it 1-0, the visitors. Cunnane recovered to get the second out on a bunt attempt, then punched out the last batter to strand the runner in scoring position.
 
A two-out single from Rickert was followed by McNelly reaching on a single, putting two on in the bottom half. Baltrusaitis delivered with a sharp single to left that scored Rickert and tied the game. The next batter was hit by a pitch to load the bases, and, a throw-back to try to catch a runner straying ended up going to the outfield, allowing McNelly to score on the error and putting Lackawanna ahead at 2-1 after one.
 
Cunnane pitched around an error in the second, and Lackawanna rewarded him in the bottom half. Henderson reached on a one-out single, and Kegerreis sent a laser to left field with two outs, just clearing the fence inside the foul pole for a two-run homer, making it 4-1. Rickert reached on an error, and came around to score on a McNelly two-out single, pushing the Lackawanna advantage out to 5-1.
 
Lackawanna had the bases loaded in the bottom of the third with nobody out, when Henderson doubled a 2-2 pitch to the left-center gap, clearing the bases, and advancing to third on the throw home. However, he was out at the plate, getting greedy by rounding third and trying to score. Still, the Falcons led at 8-1, and Matson made it nine with a one-out solo homerun to left field, chasing the Del Tech starter.
 
Delaware Tech got something going in the fifth with two hitters getting beaned, so the visitors had runners and first and second with one out. But, Cunnane recovered to get a fly out to right, then got a fielder's choice to third to stay out of trouble.
 
Lackawanna wasted a leadoff double in the bottom of the fifth, and Russell came on to start the top of the sixth. A one-out single got Delaware Tech a base runner, but Russell got a ground out, followed by a swinging strike out, to stay out of any danger, then struck out the side in the top of the seventh.
 
In the bottom frame, A one-out walk from Logan Mote (Redshirt First Year; Branchburg, NJ) put a runner on, and he advanced to second on a ground out, then got to third on a wild pitch. A walk to Matson put two on with two outs, and an error in left let Kegerreis reach and Mote come home to make it 10-1. That brought up Rickert, who singled on the infield and legged it out to reach, letting Matson come home to score to walk things off for the Falcons.
 
Lackawanna College has now won four in a row, and has completed Region XIX DII play at 10-5, tied with County College of Morris for second in the region standings. Morris has a better overall record than Lackawanna, but the Falcons took 2-of-3 from the Titans in the regular season. The Falcons still have some non-region games to wrap up regular season play, starting on Tuesday, April 30^th, when Monroe College comes to town for a doubleheader. First pitch is at 3:00pm ET at Scranton HS baseball field.