FREDERICKSBURG, VA (February 18, 2024) – Returning to the field at the University of Mary Washington on Sunday morning after facing off against the hosts yesterday, Susquehanna baseball took on Washington College (MD) and got their first win of the 2024 campaign, winning 10-4.
Tyler Rigot pitched a gem in his first start of the season enroute to a win, tossing 5.1 innings while allowing just one run on three hits and fanning seven batters. The first four innings proved to be a pitchers' duel, as Washington's starter held SU off the board as well, allowing just three hits and striking out eight batters. His weakness proved to be command, as he also issued six walks in 4.1 innings, which helped to score SU their first two runs of the game in the top of the 5th. After a Michael Biuso single, Sean McCulloch would reach on a walk before both runners advanced a base on a wild pitch. Dylan Heyduk would then reach base on an error that allowed Biuso and McCulloch to score, before Tony Rossi drew another walk that earned the starter the hook. The rally would end with back-to-back strikeouts to the new pitcher, but momentum remained with the River Hawks.
They struck again in the top of the 6th for two more runs, with McCulloch picking up an RBI on a bases-loaded fielder's choice before coming home to score along with Thomas Romanelli on a two-RBI single to center field by Rossi.
Washington finally got on the board in the bottom of the 6th, ending Rigot's start after an RBI single, but Brice Gregory would enter the game and induce a double play to prevent any further damage.
Romanelli came up with a big knock in the next frame, launching a two-out double that scored Michael Mancuso after he reached base on a hit-by-pitch. With the score now 6-1, Washington launched a comeback effort in the bottom of the 7th, tallying three runs on five hits and looking for a chance to tie the game with two runners on and only one out and the score 6-4. But for the second-straight inning, the SU defense came through with a double play to end the inning and stop the bleeding.
The River Hawks would then respond with authority on offense, loading the bases to start the innings on a pair of walks and a McCulloch single. Rossi then came through with another clutch hit, adding three more RBIs to his day with a double that cleared the bases and pushed the lead back to five runs. He would then score himself after stealing third and coming home to score on a wild pitch, creating the 10-4 score that stood until the end of the game.
SU finished the day with seven hits, while drawing a hefty 11 walks as a team, including three by Biuso and two each for Heyduk and Rossi. Rossi finished the day 2 for 3 at the plate, racking up five RBIs and scoring a run, reaching base in four of his five plate appearances with the two walks. He also stole two bases, while McCulloch, Biuso, and Mancuso all stole one as well.
The team will now return home for a few days to prepare for their next trip, as they'll head further south to Kannapolis, NC, playing a trio of games at the 2024 D3 Showcase at Atrium Health Park over the weekend. They'll begin on Friday the 23rd at 7:30 pm against the University of Rochester. On Saturday, they'll face off with Berry College (GA) at noon, before wrapping up the trip on Sunday at 1 pm with a game against Washington & Lee.
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--RIVER HAWKS--
