HUNTINGDON, PA (March 26, 2024) – Following a strong weekend that saw Susquehanna baseball take two of three games off of Catholic, they traveled to Juniata College on Tuesday afternoon for more Landmark Conference action. Despite an impressive comeback effort after falling behind early, the River Hawks could not quite muster enough in the final innings to take the lead on the hosting Eagles, ultimately falling 10-8 in the first of three contests scheduled against Juniata this season.
SU took an early one-run lead in the top of the 2nd, scoring a run on their first hit as Michael Girardi picked up his first career RBI, bringing home Dylan Heyduk after he reached on an error earlier in the inning. But Juniata would come alive on offense over the next few frames, scoring eight runs over the next four innings and tallying 13 of their 18 total hits in the game during those innings.
Now in a seven-run hole and having struggled for offense with just one hit through five innings, it was the River Hawks' turn to go on a run, as their bats came alive in the top of the 6th, tallying five runs on five hits to get back within striking distance of the hosts. They would start the inning with three-straight hits, with Tony Rossi hitting a lead-off double, advancing to third on a Jack Cahill single, and scoring on a single by Heyduk. After stealing second base and reaching third on Heyduk's hit, Cahill scored on a sacrifice fly from Tyler Hmielewski. After Juniata would get a chance to end the inning with a strikeout to get the second out, Christian Biuso kept the runs going with a double down the left field line to score Heyduk. Putting a cap on the big inning, Michael Mancuso came to the plate and ripped a two-run home run over the left field fence, making the score 8-6.
SU got right back to work in the top of the 7th, cutting the lead down to just one run on a two-out RBI triple by Heyduk. With Evan Applegate keeping Juniata off the board in the 6th and Adam Stuck coming in to get another zero in the 7th, the pitching was able to give Susquehanna the opportunity to tie the game up in the top of the 8th. Another lead-off hit got things going, as Biuso singled to left field. Mancuso sacrifice bunted him to second, before Biuso reached third base on a groundout. With two outs on the board, Christian got some help from his older brother, as Michael Biuso came up with a clutch two-out RBI single to tie the game at 8-8.
After the impressive fight back into the game, Susquehanna would run out of steam just a frame too soon, as Juniata would finally get back on the board in the bottom of the 8th with a pair of runs on three hits. Vincent Mariella would do well to work out of a bases loaded jam to keep the gap at just two runs, but the bats couldn't get going again in the top of the 9th, with three hitters all making good contact but ultimately all producing outs to end the game.
Despite the slow start on offense, the River Hawks finished the day with 11 hits, racking up ten hits in just the 6th, 7th, and 8th innings. Rossi led the way with a 3 for 5 day at the plate, while Heyduk and Christian Biuso both had a pair of hits. Those two each scored two of the River Hawks' eight runs, while Heyduk and Mancuso tied for the team lead in RBIs with two each. Jack Cahill earned the team's sole stolen base of the day.
Susquehanna won't need to wait long for a chance to get back in the win column, as they'll travel to Elizabethtown for a three-game weekend series in just a few days' time. A matchup that's held significant implications throughout the history of Landmark baseball, Susquehanna beat Elizabethtown twice in last season's Landmark Tournament to knock out the Blue Jays, who had entered the tournament as the one seed. The teams will play one game on Friday, March 29 at 3:30 pm, before facing off in a doubleheader on Saturday, beginning at noon.
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--RIVER HAWKS--
