Box Score

FORT PIERCE, Fla. – Freshman Bobby Wittemann (Warrington, Pa. / Central Bucks South) pitched seven solid innings and the Crusaders took advantage of a costly error as Susquehanna baseball upended No. 21 Misericordia 3-2 Tuesday afternoon at Indian River State College.

Wittemann threw seven innings and allowed only two runs on six hits while striking out three Cougars for his first career win. As a team, the Crusaders (3-3) used a seven-hit attack, including two base knocks by freshman Taylor Luckenbill (Pottsville, Pa. / Nativity BVM).

The contest was scoreless until the third when the Cougars (2-2) scored twice to go ahead 2-0. SU recorded their second hit of the game when Luckenbill stroked a double down the left field line, but unfortunately was left stranded to end the sixth.

But the game suddenly went in favor of the Crusaders (3-3) in the bottom of the seventh. Chris Ryan (Toms River, N.J. / Toms River North) cracked a single to right field and Kyle Semmel (Burlington Twp., N.J. / Holy Cross) followed with a bunt base hit to give SU two runners on and no outs.

Dylan Glassmire (Doylestown, Pa. / Central Bucks South) then laid down a bunt and Misericordia's pitcher overthrew first base which allowed Ryan and Semmel to score, knotting the game at 2-2.Freshman catcher Tom Shields (Chalfont, Pa. / Central Bucks South) recorded a sacrifice fly, scoring Glassmire, and handing SU their first lead of the day, 3-2.

Bobby Klatt (Leonardo, N.J. / Mater Dei Prep) relieved Wittemann in the eighth and successfully recorded an out before making way for senior closer Matt Smith (Blue Ridge Summit, Pa. / Wyoming Seminary), who retired the next two batters with fly ball outs.

In the top of the ninth, Smith shut down Misericordia for his second save of the season as SU came from behind and upset the nationally ranked team from Dallas, Pa.

The Crusaders play La Roche tomorrow at 1:00 p.m.