MYRTLE BEACH, SC (March 13, 2023) – The Susquehanna baseball team continued their hot streak in Myrtle Beach with a third-straight win and second-straight walk-off, topping Rutgers-Camden by a score of 7-6 on Monday evening.

With the River Hawks' lineup unchanged from last night's win beyond the starting pitcher, SU were a bit slow to resume their hitting pace after the performance against New England College. Tyler Rigot took the mound for his fourth start of the season and ran into some trouble in the opening frame, giving up a walk and a single to the first two batters before a fielder's choice brought a run home to give Rutgers-Camden a one-run lead right at the start.

After going down in order in the bottom of the 1^st, the River Hawks got runs on the board in the bottom of the 2^nd, primarily thanks to some mistakes from their opponents. Two fielding errors and two batters hit by pitch helped SU tally two runs on a two-RBI fielder's choice from Dylan Heyduk, giving Susquehanna the lead despite still having no hits. They would get their first hit in the next frame, with a leadoff walk from Kris Morrow followed by a single for Brock Veit. A strikeout and groundout put two outs on the board, but Michael Mancuso would draw a walk to load the bases. Rutgers-Camden escaped further damage though, as J.P. Yore would strike out swinging to end the frame.

Both teams tallied in the fourth, with an RBI double tying the game at 2-2 in the top of the 4^th before SU came back out swinging in the bottom half, quickly reclaiming the lead with three runs on three hits. Tyler Hmielewski, Heyduk, and Sean McCulloch would all hit singles, with McCulloch's bringing home the first run. He then swiped second, his 13^th stolen base of the season. Heyduk would then score while McCulloch reached third on a passed ball. Morrow knocked a sacrifice fly to deep right field to score McCulloch and complete the three-run swing.

After both teams went scoreless in the 5^th, Rutgers-Camden started the 6^th strong, hitting a leadoff double before a sacrifice bunt followed by a passed ball brought that runner home and made the score 5-3. Back-to-back walks and a passed ball then had runners on first and third with still only one out, spelling the end of Rigot's start, after 5.1 innings of work allowing three earned runs on four hits and striking out seven batters. Landon Ness came in for relief duty, but a fielding error on a bunt attempt brought two more runs home and tied the game again before Ness was able to induce a groundball double play to end the inning.

The 7^th and 8^th innings would be scoreless for both teams, with Ryan Redmond taking the mound for the River Hawks and providing some strong innings of work. SU looked poised to reclaim the lead with the bases loaded in the bottom of the 8^th, but a two-out grounder gave Rutgers-Camden the choice of any base to get the third out and escape any damage. With the score still tied, the game entered the 9^th looking primed for another dramatic finish. It would not disappoint, with a two-out RBI double for Rutgers-Camden giving them the lead back for the first time since the 1^st inning. Now looking at a potential loss, the River Hawk batters went to work immediately in the bottom of the inning. Veit led with a single up the middle, then advancing to third base when Lance Book singled down the right field line. C.J. Latham would pinch run for Book and take full advantage of the opportunity, stealing second base. With runners now on second and third and no outs, SU was in perfect position. But, a strikeout gave Rutgers-Newark their first out and a potential lifeline. They would intentionally walk Michael Mancuso to load the bases and set up a potential double play at any two bases. Another strikeout brought SU down to their final out, the situation suddenly looking dire after such a promising start. But the tying run would come home after all, as a passed ball advanced all three runners. Hmielewski now had the opportunity to win the game at the plate, and the sophomore made no mistake with his chance, ripping a single through the right side of the infield to bring Latham home to score the winning run and seal the win.

Despite a slow start at the plate, Susquehanna finished with eight total hits. Veit, Hmielewski, and Heyduk each had two, while McCulloch and Book would account for one each. The first-year Heyduk was a particular standout, leading the team with two RBIs, drawing a walk, and stealing two bases. Redmond earned the win after three innings, allowing one run on two hits and fanning four batters.

Now 9-3, the team will have an off day tomorrow, preparing for their final Spring Break game on Wednesday morning, facing Framingham State University at 10:00 am.

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--RIVER HAWKS--