FREDERICKSBURG, VA (February 17, 2024) – Kicking off their season in Virginia, Susquehanna baseball faced off against the University of Mary Washington on Saturday afternoon in their season opener, the first of two games they'll play at the facility, with the Eagles hosting a game between Susquehanna and Washington College (MD) tomorrow. The hosts came out on top against the River Hawks, leveraging a big second inning into an 11-3 final score.
After a quiet first inning, Susquehanna looked poised to take an early lead as the first two batters reached base in the top of the 2nd. Sophomore Jack Cahill led off with a single to left field before Lance Book was hit by a pitch, giving SU runners on first and second with no outs. But just when momentum looked to be finding the River Hawks, a foul out and back-to-back strikeouts ended the threat with no damage done. Mary Washington would then respond on offense, tallying four runs on three hits and an error in the bottom of the inning.
Back-to-back fielding errors in the top of the 3rd gave SU another potential window to runs, but once again a pair of runners would be left on base as Mary Washington stiffened defensively, then adding another run in the bottom of the inning.
The breakthrough finally came in the 5th, as an RBI single from Sean McCulloch would bring home Michael Biuso, who reached base on a one-out double before advancing to third on a wild pitch.
Senior Aidan Martin would take the mound for SU in the bottom of the 5th, relieving starter Ryan Redmond, but after holding the Eagles off the board in the 5th and 6th, Mary Washington started to collect some hits off of Martin as well. They would score three runs on four hits in the 7th before a two-run home run in the bottom of the 8th stretched the score out to 11-1.
The River Hawks wouldn't go without a fight, scoring a pair of runs in the top of the 9th. Michael Mancuso started the late rally with a one-out single, then advancing to second as Christian Biuso followed him with a single of his own. Cam Eberly would reach base on a fielding error, loading the bases with just one out. Michael Biuso picked up an RBI on a fielder's choice, with Mancuso scoring, Christian reaching third, and Eberly put out at second. McCulloch kept it going with another RBI single, but the run came to an end on a groundout and the game ended at 11-3.
McCulloch and Mancuso both went 2 for 4 at the plate, while McCulloch also drew the River Hawks only walk of the day. Michael Biuso's double would be the team's only extra-base hit of the day.
Susquehanna will take the field again tomorrow looking for their first win of the season, taking on Washingotn College (MD) at 11 am.
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--RIVER HAWKS--
