Center Valley, PA (March 17, 2006) – Sophomore Scott Matejicka (Whitehall, PA/Whitehall) went 2-for-4 and broke open a scoreless game with a bases clearing double in the bottom of the third inning to lead the DeSales University baseball team past The University of Scranton, 6-1, in the Freedom Conference opener for both teams.

     DSU (5-3, 1-0 Freedom) loaded the bases in the third on a hit batter and two walks before Matejicka’s blast to left-center that landed just short of the outfield fence.  The Bulldogs tacked on two more runs in the inning on RBI singles from Mike Pennington (Dresher, PA/LaSalle College) and Mike Bianca (Ellicott City, MD/Mt. St. Joseph) to give the Bulldogs a 5-0 lead.

     Matejicka, the Cambridge Search Player of the Game, added his fourth RBI on an RBI single in the seventh inning and Scranton (3-7, 0-1 Freedom) plated its lone run in the ninth inning on four walks.

     Senior Matt Reppert (Allentown, PA/Dieruff) earned his first win of the season, tossing six shutout innings and allowing just six hits and striking out two.  Freshman Andrew Kulhamer (Whitehall, PA/Whitehall) and sophomore Mike Concilio (Bethlehem, PA/Liberty) each tossed one shutout inning in relief.

     Sophomore Andrew Heard (Alexandria, VA/Hafield) also collected two hits and stole four bases to lead a DeSales attack that finished with nine stolen bases.  Bianca finished with three hits and stole two bases.

     Mike Graziano and Kevin Johnson each had two hits for the Royals in the loss.  Kevin McGrath suffered the loss as he pitched seven innings allowing eight hits and six runs while striking out seven.

     DSU is scheduled to travel to The University of Scranton on Saturday to finish this weekend’s three-game set with a doubleheader beginning at Noon.