Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score
SELINSGROVE, Pa. – Five members of the SU baseball team were honored prior to the Crusaders' doubleheader against Catholic Saturday afternoon with Susquehanna taking the first game 4-2 but falling in game two 5-1.
In the early contest, junior Casey Hood (Shrewsbury, Pa. / Susquehannock) earned his eighth win of the year, as the lefty threw 5.2 innings, giving up two runs and striking out four.
Freshman Liam Conboy (Old Tappan, N.J. / Northern Valley Regional) struck out the only batter he faced to end the sixth frame. Senior Matt Smith (Blue Ridge Summit, Pa. / Wyoming Seminary) earned his 10th save of the year, fanning all three batters he faced—all called third strikes.
Taylor Luckenbill (Pottsville, Pa. / Nativity BVM) and Jared Musilli (Branchville, N.J. / High Point Regional) both had two hits apiece. In fact, Luckenbill set the new SU freshman single-season hits record with three hits during the day, bringing his total to 51, breaking Chris Price's record of 49 set in 2007.
The game was scoreless until the fifth inning when SU (24-11, 12-5 Landmark) plated four to take a 4-0 advantage. Musilli led off with an infield single and was moved to second with a sacrifice bunt by Nick Kennedy (Brookeville, Md. / Good Council). Senior Ty Raubenstine (Elizabethville, Pa. / Upper Dauphin Area) followed with an RBI triple to right field and Luckenbill would drive in Raubenstine with a single through the left side.
After a double to left by Dylan Glassmire (Doylestown, Pa. / Central Bucks South) and an intentional walk to Bryan Palsi (Brielle, N.J. / Manasquan), Kyle Semmel (Burlington Twp., N.J. / Holy Cross) ripped a two-run single to center to hand SU a 4-0 lead.
Catholic (21-16, 10-7 Landmark), however, trimmed the lead in half by scoring two runs in the top of the sixth. SU looked to get some insurance runs on the board, but left the bases loaded as the Cardinals escaped the threat.
Smith appeared in the top of the seventh and struck out the Cardinals in order to extend his Landmark Conference career saves record to 22 saves.
In the nightcap, the Cardinals jumped out to an early 1-0 lead after scoring on an SU error. The Crusaders found themselves trailing 5-0 after the top of the seventh and were set to rally.
Luckenbill led off with a walk and Glassmire ensued with a single through the right side. Palsi would load the bases with a base knock to center. After an RBI groundout by Dylan Jenkins (Glen Mills, Pa. / Bayard Rustin), the Cardinals ended the game forcing a groundout.
Spencer Hotaling (Selinsgrove, Pa. / Selinsgrove Area) was tagged with the loss, throwing six innings and fanning four, giving up two earned runs. Freshman A.J. Pinto (Bronxville, N.Y. / Fordham Prep) threw one inning out of the bullpen.
Prior to Saturday's doubleheader, five members of the team were honored for Senior Day:
SU and Catholic wrap up the weekend series tomorrow at 12 p.m.
