SCRANTON, PA (May 2, 2022) -- The Susquehanna University baseball team erased an early 6-0 lead, taking a 9-7 edge into the bottom of the eighth but the host Royals of the University of Scranton rallied for an 11-9 Landmark Conference win in play from Volpe Field Monday evening. 

The River Hawks (14-22, 8-9 Landmark) still control their own destiny when it comes to making the Landmark Conference Tournament, needing a win over Juniata College Thursday or a loss by Moravian University to Scranton Saturday to clinch a spot. 

Susquehanna fell behind early, as Scranton (27-9-1) scored the game's first six runs over the opening three frames to make it 6-0. Susquehanna got on the board in the fifth inning, cutting the Royal lead in half with a three-spot. In the rally, Brock Veit posted a two-run doubled, coming around on a Michael Biuso doubled to center field. 

The River Hawks would complete the comeback in the top of the sixth, posting four runs to take a 7-6 lead in the top of the sixth. Evan Knapp started the frame with a walk, followed by singles from Adam Schreck and Lance Book. Graduate student Chris Corrado singled to right field to bring Knapp in to make it 6-4. 

A bases loaded walk followed for SU, forcing a pitching change by the host Royals. Two batters after the change, Sean McCulloch roped a single to left field to play two runs and give the River Hawks the lead. 

Scranton tied the game on a wild pitch in the bottom of the seventh, but the River Hawks regained the lead with two runs in the top of the eighth. Veit started the inning with a double, and came around to score on a throwing error by the Royals. Sophomore Kris Morrow singled in Biuso to make it 9-7. 

The Royals wouldn't go away though, scoring four runs all with one out with the game-winning hit coming from Connor Harding, a double that scored two to make it 11-9. In the top of the ninth, Book reached to lead off the inning but the rally fizzled after that as Scranton tallied a new program record for wins in a season with 28. 

Veit was 2-for-3 with two RBI, two runs and a pair of doubles. Corrado was 2-for-4 with two runs scored and a RBI, and McCulloch was 2-for-5 with two RBI. Schreck, Book and Biuso all had multi-hit games as well for SU, which posted 13 hits on the afternoon. On the mound, Aidan Piccioni tossed 3.1 innings of strong relief, allowing only three hits while striking out two. 

Up Next

• The River Hawks will host Hood College Tuesday, May 3 at 4 p.m. on Bollinger Field in the final non-conference contest of the season. 

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