KANNAPOLIS, NC (February 25, 2024) – The Susquehanna University baseball team will return from North Carolina without any wins to show for the weekend, as they fell on Saturday against Berry College (GA) and again on Sunday against Washington & Lee. Despite taking the initial lead in both games, they would fall 8-4 against Berry and 11-6 against Washington & Lee.

Game 1 (Saturday): Berry College 8, Susquehanna University 4

After taking the lead in the bottom of the 1^st inning, Susquehanna would see Berry tie the game back up in the 2^nd before taking a one-run lead in the 4^th. Anthony Colucci would have a strong showing for the River Hawks on the mound, throwing 6.0 innings while allowing just three runs on eight hits, but seeing the end of his outing yielding a big inning for Berry, as they tallied four runs in the top of the 7^th to stretch out to a 6-2 lead.

Susquehanna scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the 7^th to get back within two runs, but Berry matched that output in the top of the 8^th and held the River Hawks off the board for the remainder of the game. The trio of Dylan Heyduk, Tony Rossi, and Lance Book would account for much of the team's offense in the heart of the order, with Heyduk going 2 for 4, scoring two runs, and reaching on a walk. Rossi was 3 for 5 at the plate while scoring once, while Book served well as a cleanup hitter, going 2 for 5 and tallying three RBIs.

Game 2 (Sunday): Wash. & Lee 11, Susquehanna 6

The final game of the weekend would see the River Hawks once again jump out to an early lead, this time all coming on one swing in the top of the 1^st inning, as Michael Mancuso came to the plate with the bases loaded and launched a grand slam over the left field wall, registering SU's first home run of the season and putting Susquehanna up 4-0. However, W&L's pitching would buckle down and hold Susquehanna off the board for the next three innings while their offense scored five runs to take the lead. The River Hawks would load the bases with no outs in the top of the 5^th, looking primed for a chance to take the lead after a pair of singles from Heyduk and Rossi, both stealing a base, and Jack Cahill walking to load the bags. However, a groundout double play saw Heyduk able to score and Rossi reach third but also quickly put two outs up. A strikeout ended the inning and stranded Rossi on third base, leaving the score tied at 5 each.

After a solid start from Tyler Rigot, he would make way in the bottom of the 5^th for Aidan Martin. W&L would greet Martin with an immediate solo home run to reclaim the lead, following that with a double. A sacrifice bunt moved the runner to third, before a pair of infield errors on the next play allowed the runner to score and hitter to reach second base. They would reach third on a wild pitch before coming home on a third fielding error in the inning, making the score 8-5 in the Generals' favor before the River Hawks were able to get out of the inning.

Susquehanna added a run back in the next frame on an RBI single from Sean McCulloch, but that would be the last scoring for the River Hawks in the game. Martin was able to shut down W&L in the 6^th and 7^th innings and Susquehanna would look poised for a big inning in the top of the 8^th. Thomas Romanelli would lead off the inning with a single before Cam Eberly entered as a pinch runner and stole second base. After a strikeout put one out on the board, Michael Biuso hit his own single to right field to advance Eberly to third. Biuso stole second as well, giving SU runners on second and third with one out. Another strikeout made it two outs for W&L, but Heyduk was able to draw a walk to load the bases. With the bases loaded and two outs, Rossi came to the plate having put together a brilliant weekend. But, after a lengthy battle at the plate, he would swing through a two-strike curveball to strikeout and leave the bases loaded.

The Generals added some insurance in the bottom of the 8^th and would allow just a single hit to SU in the top of the 9^th, ending the game and taking the win.

The River Hawks will return home to recharge before their next trip, as they'll once again head south for the weekend, traveling to Shenandoah University in Winchester, VA. They'll first play a neutral game against #24 East. Connecticut St. on Friday afternoon, before playing the 7^th-ranked hosts twice, once on Saturday and once on Sunday. Friday's game will begin at 2:30 pm.

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--RIVER HAWKS--