Baseball Splits at Drew, 16-4, 5-6

MADISON, N.J. -- The Susquehanna University baseball team split a Landmark Conference doubleheader with host Drew University, 16-4, 5-6, at Doc Young Field on April 10.

Junior Keith Needham (Lewisburg, Pa./Lewisburg Area) earned the win for Susquehanna (11-13, 4-4 Landmark) in Game 1 by pitching a complete game. Needham held Drew (5-19, 3-8 Landmark) to three earned runs on six hits and two walks in that game while striking out a game-high six batters.

Teammate and junior infielder Justin Portzline (Selinsgrove, Pa./Selinsgrove Area) had a memorable day to say the least. Portzline batted a combined 7-for-8 over both games to raise his batting average this season to a team-best .438 this year. He drove in seven total runs, including six in Game 1 alone when he went 5-for-5 with a homerun, a stolen base and two runs scored. He walked and scored another run in Game 2.

The Crusaders led the opener from start-to-finish, bookending the game by scoring four runs in the top of the first and eight in the top of the seventh. The Rangers got three of their runs in that first game in the bottom of the first.

SU's freshman infielder Nick Ferlise (Toms River, N.J./Toms River North) batted 3-for-4 in that game with a double, a steal, two runs batted in and a run scored. Senior catcher Don Kirkland (Kennett Square, Pa./Unionville) and junior pitcher/infielder Calvin Hug (West Chester, Pa./Unionville) both went 2-for-3 with two runs in the opener. Kirkland doubled and homered as part of three RBI. He also laid down a sacrifice bunt. Hug stole a base.

Teammate and junior infielder Erik Tuomisto (Northumberland, Pa./Shikellamy) went 2-for-5 in Game 1 with a steal, two runs and an RBI. Sophomore infielder Ethan Rieker (Lancaster, Pa./Manheim Twp.) and freshman outfielders Rasheed Stewart (Philadelphia, Pa./Germantown Friends) and Ryan Crofts (Westport, Conn./Staples) all went 1-for-1. Rieker had an RBI double. Stewart stole a base, scored a run and drove in another. Crofts collected a sacrifice bunt and a run.

Susquehanna's senior infielder/catcher Chris Price (Coral Springs, Fla./Coral Glades) and senior infielder Zack Brigman (Yardville, N.J./Hamilton West) both went 1-for-3 with two runs in the first game. Price walked twice, doubled and had one RBI, while Brigman walked once and stole a base.

Junior infielder Geoff Hunter (Sugarloaf, Pa./Hazleton Area) walked, stole a base and scored a run as part of a 1-for-4 game.

Junior Andy Hergan (Bloomsburg, Pa./Central Columbia) suffered the loss in Game 2, which was settled in the eighth inning. Hergan loaded the bases in the bottom of the eighth after Susquehanna had forced the extra inning with a three-run top of the seventh. Sophomore Jordan Thomas (Westminster, Md./Westminster HS) replaced Hergan but surrendered a bases-loaded, game-winning single to the lone batter he faced. Hergan finished with two innings pitched, allowing two hits and an intentional walk while notching one strikeout.

Hug started the nightcap and allowed five runs on eight walks and five walks over four innings. He struck out two batters before being relieved by junior Joe Schurig (Westfield, N.J./Westfield). Schurig threw a scoreless inning, yielding one hit and one walk and picking up a K.

Like Portzline, Crusaders freshman outfielder Ken Kayama [Koto-Ku, Japan/Solebury (Pa.)] went 2-for-3 with a walk in Game 2. Rieker was 2-for-4 with a double and a run.

Price, Ferlise, Brigman and Hunter were all 1-for-4 in the nightcap. Ferlise homered, and Price collected a double, a steal, a run and two RBI. Brigman scored a run.

Next Game: Sunday, April 11, at Drew (Landmark Conference game), 12 p.m.

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