NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – The Susquehanna baseball team defeated Ithaca at Christopher Newport University Saturday afternoon.

The Crusaders (1-1) were led by Justin Cassinelli who went 4-5 at the plate with a triple. Bryan Palsi went 4-6 with two RBI's and a double while Matt Cassinelli homered as he batted 2-4 with one RBI.

Cory Fallon (1-0) earned the win on seven innings of work, allowing four runs on two hits and struck out two. Cole Luzins pitched one inning of relief while Nathan Madden closed and allowed one hit and one run while striking out one in his inning of play.

Nick Marini got the game going for SU in the first at-bat of the game by doubling to center field and stealing third to put him in scoring position for a Zach Leone sacrifice fly that gave the Crusaders the early 1-0 lead. The Bombers (0-1) answered in the bottom of the first with three runs to take the 3-1 lead.

Matt Cassinelli homered in the top of the second to cut the lead in half (3-2) and in the third inning Palsi doubled to plate Justin Cassinelli, who singled in his at bat, tying the game at three.

Scoring three runs in the fifth inning gave SU a 6-3 lead, a lead the team did not relinquish for the remainder of the game. Ithaca scored on a Trevor Thompson homer in the bottom of the sixth to come within two (6-4) but an eight-run eighth inning (15-4) for the Crusaders put the game out reach for Ithaca who scored one more run in the ninth to cut the lead to 10 (15-5).

Susquehanna returns to action on Sunday when the team plays Christopher Newport at 1:00 p.m.