Baseball

Delaware Valley 16, University of Scranton 9 (Game 1)
University of Scranton 10, Delaware Valley 4 (Game 2)

SCRANTON (PA) - Delaware Valley College hit four home runs in the first game, including a grand slam by Austin Rickrode, as the visiting Aggies split a Freedom Conference doubleheader with The University of Scranton. Delaware Valley took the opener, 16-9, but dropped a 10-4 decision in the nightcap.

With the split, the Aggies are now 14-15 overall and 7-10 in conference play. They have one Freedom game remaining (Monday at home against FDU-Florham) and will then wait to see if they get help next weekend as the conference schedule comes to an end. Delaware Valley is in sixth place, trailing both Drew (7-8) and King's (7-8) for the fourth and final playoff berth as the Aggies hope to return to the postseason for the ninth year in a row.

Rickrode's grand slam came in a five-run, second inning and gave Delaware Valley an 8-2 lead. It was the sophomore's second career home run and his first grand slam.

The Royals (4-19, 3-12) responded with four runs in the third inning, but the Aggies upped the lead to 13-6 with three runs in the fifth and two more in the sixth. The fifth inning saw Bill Cahill knock in a run with a sacrifice fly and Ryan Burza follow with a RBI double. Derek Scholl knocked in both runs in the sixth with a two-run homer.

Scranton made things interesting in its half of the sixth as the Royals scored three runs on three hits and one Aggie error for a 13-9 score. However, Delaware Valley put the game away in the seventh as Bill Cahill drilled a two-run homer and Burza made it back-to-back round trippers with a solo blast.
Burza and Cahill each went 3-for-4 and the duo combined for seven runs scored and five RBIs. Rickrode's grand slam was his lone hit of the game as went 1-for-4. Scholl finished 2-for-4 with two RBIs and Sean Meister added three hits and four runs scored and five RBIs.

Mick Bigwood improved to 3-3 on the season as only three of the nine runs he allowed were earned in five-plus innings of work. Nick Rozdilski earned his second save of the season.

However, the Aggie offense could not keep the momentum going in the nightcap as John Gennaoui limited them to four runs and six hits in the 10-4 loss. Meanwhile, Scranton jumped out to a 7-0 lead in the first inning. The Royals had just three hits in the inning, but they earned six walks, including the first five batters of the game.

Delaware Valley scored three times in the fourth inning on a bases-loaded walk by Zach Jakubowski, a ground out by Jeff Pochron and a RBI single by Travis Roth. Burza hit a solo home run to lead off the sixth inning for the Aggies' final run of the day.

Burza was the lone Delaware Valley player to have a multiple-hit game as he went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and one RBI. Jason Champagne did not record an out in the game and saw his record fall to 1-3.