MYRTLE BEACH, S.C.- Third time's the charm! The Keystone College baseball team erupted for 16 runs on 10 hits Wednesday morning, cruising past Hanover College, 16-4, in a seven-inning contest in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
Keystone (2-2) wasted no time setting the tone, plating three runs in the top of the first inning. After a hit-by-pitch and a single put two aboard, Ian Scalabrini (Oakland, N.J./Don Bosco Prep) delivered an RBI single to score Dante Ruby (Archbald, Pa./Valley View) for the game's first run. Ray Moreta (Bergenfield, N.J./Bergenfield) followed with a two-run single to cap the early rally.
The Giants added two more runs in the second. Colson Bennett (Camden, Del./Caesar Rodney) drove in Declan Dunleavy (Fleming Island, Fla./Fleming Island) with a single before Cooper Fesh (Bethel, Conn./Bethel) launched a solo home run to extend the lead.
Keystone broke the game open in the fourth inning. Jacob McTigue (Endicott, N.Y./Union-Endicott) walked and later scored on a Bennett groundout before Fesh drew a walk to set the stage for Ruby. The third baseman crushed a three-run homer to left field, to push the lead to 9-0.
After Hanover (3-3) got on the board with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the fourth, the Giants answered again in the fifth. Following two hit batters and a walk to load the bases, Dunleavy brought home Scalabrini with a groundout.
Keystone put the finishing touches on the win with a six-run seventh inning. Rice started the surge with an RBI double to right-center. Jaxson Monroney (Camden, Del./Caesar Rodney) added an RBI single, and the Giants capitalized on a Hanover error and three consecutive bases-loaded walks to stretch the lead to 16-1.
Hanover mounted a small rally in the bottom of the seventh, scoring three runs on a groundout, a sacrifice fly, and an RBI single, but it wasn't enough to overcome the early deficit.
Rice finished 2-for-3 with two RBI and three runs scored, while Ruby drove in three runs on his home run. Moreta also tallied three RBI, and Fesh reached base three times, scored three runs, and homered. Scalabrini scored three times and drove in two.
Luke Baker (Schuylkill Haven, Pa./Blue Mountain) picked up the win on the mound, pitching five innings and allowing just one run on one hit while striking out five batters.
Keystone will head to Mount St. Mary's E.T Straw Family Stadium for two neutral site games against Westfield State and Eastern Connecticut State on Sunday, Mar. 1.
