SELINSGROVE, PA - Susquehanna baseball used a hot start including 12 runs in the first four innings and a career-high six RBIs from
Michael Mancuso to earn a 14-10 win over Juniata on Wednesday night. Mancuso's six RBIs included a two-run single in the second and a grand slam in the third in a 2-for-5 day.
The River Hawks began the game with a run in the bottom half of the first, with
Sean McCulloch stealing third then scoring on an error on the same play to put the home side in front.
After being hit back by the Eagles in the top of the second, the game opened up for Susquehanna as they added three runs in the second, with Mancuso knocking a two-run single to left center and
Griffin Shenman scoring on an error.
The River Hawks loaded the bases in the bottom of the third, and Mancuso unleashed a blast to left center for a grand slam to put the River Hawks up 8-1.
Susquehanna added four more in the fourth, with the first four batters reaching base, including a two-run single from
Dylan Heyduk that scored
Michael Biuso and
Tony Rossi.
Joe Healy, the next batter, plated
Kris Morrow with a sac fly that also saw Heyduk advance to third, then the sophomore scored on a base hit off the bat of
Tyler Hmielewski.
Adam Stuck got the ball for his first career start in the game, going four innings allowing just one run on one hit, picking up the win in the process.
Juniata applied pressure to the River Hawks, scoring two in the fifth, one in the sixth, and four in the seventh, but after scoring two more in the eighth, their scoring for the day was done as the River Hawks kept the lead, ahead 13-10 going into the bottom of the eighth.
The hosts tacked on an insurance run in their final trip to the plate, Healy knocking home pinch runner
Cam Eberly with a well-executed slash single to right.
Six River Hawks hit safely in the game, including five with multiple hits, and Morrow reaching base four times with three walks and a hit by pitch. Healy led the team with three hits, followed by McCulloch, Heyduk, Hmielewski and Mancuso with two each. Biuso also added a hit.
The River Hawks improve to 12-15 with the win and 8-6 in the Landmark Conference, good enough for fifth. They play a three-game set with Scranton on the road next this weekend.
