ELIZABETHTOWN, Pa. – Senior Joey Thomas brought home the series win for Elizabethtown College with a walk-off single in the final game of the weekend with Scranton, as the two teams split, 8-1 and 4-3, Sunday afternoon at Kevin S. Boyd Stadium

With the win, the Blue Jays improve to 3-1 no the season, while the Royal fall to 1-3.

The series-clinching win was the first walk-off victory for Etown since they scored back-to-back last at-bat wins against Juniata on April 13, 2019.



GAME ONE: SCRANTON 8, ELIZABETHTOWN 1
Scranton exacted a bit of revenge to open the two-game set on Sunday after getting beat twice by the Blue Jays on Saturday.

Game one was scoreless through three innings until the Royal broke the tie in the top of the fourth. Sophomore Justin Pinckert drove in the game's first run with an RBI double to left field.

Junior Tyler Kirsten and senior Kyle Johnson each recorded RBI for Scranton in the fifth to extend the lead to 3-0 before Pinckert singled to center to bring home another pair of runs to push its advantage to five (5-0).

With Elizabethtown was able to break up the shutout bid in the eighth inning as Tyler McGonigle's knocked in a run for Etown. Ben Watson scored on the play as the out was recorded at second.

Sophomore Nicholas Ortega (0-1) went 4 2/3 innings in the start, allowing four runs on four hits and striking out five.

Junior James Gadue (1-0) earned the win for the Royal, pitching 5 2/3 innings, allowing only two hits and striking out three.

GAME TWO: ELIZABETHTOWN 4 SCRANTON 3
Down 3-1 heading into the bottom of the seventh, senior Michael Rajnik started the rally for the Blue Jays, reaching on a throwing error the third basemen.

Freshman AJ Bednar then put both of them in scoring position, crushing a double to right field, bringing the winning run to the plate with no outs.

After sophomore Ben Watson worked a walk to load the bases, senior Andrew Fisher tied the score, lacing a double to left-center, plating both Rajnik and Bednar.

Scranton then intentionally walked McGonigle to load the bases, bringing Thomas to the plate. With the count 1-1, the Stewartstown, Pa. native slapped a single through the right side, scoring Watson and starting the celebration.

Senior Kelly Holdren (1-0) earned the win in relief, hurling 3 1/3 innings of no-hit baseball and striking out six batters. Senior Tyler Dunbar took the no-decision in his 2021 debut, allowing three runs on four hits and striking out three in 3 2/3 innings of work.

Etown remains at home for the start of its next Landmark Conference series on Saturday, March 27 against the Drew Rangers. First pitch of the doubleheader is set for 12:30 p.m.