Nick Berger was 4-for-5 with two runs scored a home run and a run-scoring double in the bottom of the ninth inning for the Susquehanna University Baseball team but the rally in the bottom of the ninth inning fell one run short as the River Hawks dropped a 9-8 decision to Alvernia University Tuesday afternoon in a non-conference game on Bollinger Field in Selinsgrove.

Each team scored in the second inning as Berger connected on a solo home run to lead off the bottom of the inning and Susquehanna (12-19) took a 2-1 lead with a single run in the third. Anthony Dombrowski led off the inning with a double and moved to third on a ground out before scoring on another ground out to give the River Hawks the lead.

Alvernia (26-10) jumped ahead with a pair of runs in the top of the fourth inning before the River Hawks knotted the score in the bottom half of the inning. Nick Berger hit a one-out single in the fourth and Cameron Ott doubled with two outs to score Berger to tie the score.

The Golden Wolves answered with a three-run home run in the top of the fifth.

Justin Miller led off the bottom of the fifth with a solo home run and Susquehanna added an unearned run later in the inning to trim the lead to 6-5.

Alvernia scored two more runs in the sixth and the River Hawks answered with one in the bottom of the inning to make it an 8-6 game. The two Alvernia runs were unearned and the Susquehanna run came on a leadoff home run by Ryan Casey.

The Golden Wolves stretched the lead to 9-6 with a run in the top of the ninth before Susquehanna rallied in the bottom half of the inning to make it interesting.

With one out Ben Burman singled through the left side of the infield and Tom Giaimo walked before Alvernia went to the bullpen for closer Michael Griffin.

With two outs, Berger doubled down the left field line to score Burman and push Giaimo to third. Cole Luzins was intentionally walked to load the bases. Ott followed with a four-pitch walk to force home a run to make it a 9-8 game but an infield popup ended the game.

Berger led the way with four hits while Ott, Luzins, Dombrowski and Burman all had two hits each. Ott and Berger had two runs batted in apiece. Pitchers Sean Rodriquez and Brendan Damiano combined to strike out 10 batters.

The River Hawks continue non-conference play Wednesday with a 4 p.m. home game against Albright.