SCRANTON, PA - Susquehanna baseball scored 42 runs in three games as they claimed games two and three of a three-game set that represented a rematch of the 2023 Landmark Conference championship at the home of Scranton. Griffin Shenman recorded eight hits in the series, a team-best mark.

Game 1: Scranton 19, Susquehanna 13

A disastrous sixth inning saw 19 Royals come to the plate and 13 of them score on just five hits en route to a 19-13 defeat for the River Hawks, who needed five pitchers in the sixth inning alone.

It was a hot start by the River Hawks, batting around in the first and scoring four runs, three of which came on the second home run of the season for infielder Joe Healy. They added three more in the second, with a two-run single by Kris Morrow and an RBI groundout by Healy enough to extend the River Hawks' lead to 7-0.

Four more runs came across in the third, Michael Biuso doubling to score a pair before he scored on a two-run single by the next batter, Tony Rossi.

It all fell apart for the River Hawks, however, after leading 11-0 after two and a half innings, they allowed 17 runs in the Royals' next four trips to the plate. Denny Bowers '01 used five pitchers in the sixth as Scranton batted around twice, including starter Aidan Martin, who threw 5.1 innings while striking out three. Brice Gregory was saddled with the loss, not recording an out while facing only three batters.

While the River Hawks' offense was firing on all cylinders, Scranton outhit their visitors 16-15 in the game. Susquehanna stole 12 bases in the game, including a career-high five by Rossi and three by Tyler Hmielewski. Rossi also led the team with four hits in the series opener.

Game 2: Susquehanna 12, Scranton 5

The River Hawks rebounded nicely in the nightcap on Saturday, winning 12-5 behind a strong start from Anthony Colucci, who picked up his third win of the season. Vincent Mariella came out of the bullpen to strike out a career-high seven in 3.1 innings to earn his second save in as many appearances.

Rossi picked up an RBI in the first inning with an infield single, scoring Sean McCulloch in the process. After Scranton plated two in the first, the River Hawks tied the game in the fourth with an RBI hit by McCulloch.

The River Hawks broke a 2-2 tie in the sixth by pushing across seven runs, all coming with two outs in the inning. Michael Biuso doubled home Shenman, before Rossi was intentionally walked. A well-executed double steal put two runners in scoring position and forced the Royals to issue an intentional free pass to Morrow as well. A fielder's choice from Dylan Heyduk scored Biuso, before Lance Book, returning from injury, knocked a base hit to center field to score Rossi and Morrow. Another hit from Hmielewski scored two more, before the rally was completed with a bases-loaded walk by McCulloch.

The River Hawks pushed across three runs in the final two innings, extending their lead back to its highest at seven runs. They stole eight bases in nine attempts for a total of 20 bases on Saturday. A double steal by Morrow and Rossi represented the 99th and 100th stolen bases by the River Hawks in 2024, including 52 between McCulloch and Rossi. Rossi's three stolen bases in game two extended his run of successful stolen bases to 26, while his 24 stolen bases this season rank the most in Division III among players yet to be caught.

Game 3: Susquehanna 17, Scranton 7 (8 innings)

Susquehanna took a run-rule shortened 17-7 win to complete the series win on Sunday, as there were hits for eight starters plus a substitute in the win.

Ryan Redmond got the start in the series finale, going 5.1 innings and striking out six. He was relieved by Adam Stuck, who in turn was relieved by Evan Applegate, who finished the game off in the final 1.2 innings.

The River Hawks hit seven doubles and were hit by seven pitches, both season highs for the team. Heyduk recorded two of each to lead the team.

Two of the seven doubles came in the second inning, as the visiting River Hawks pushed across three runs. Shenman doubled to score Hmielewski, and Rossi followed suit with a two-run double to center to score Michael Mancuso and Shenman.

A double by Hmielewski plated Heyduk in the third, before the right fielder swiped third and came around to score on an infield hit by Shenman.

Two more runs came across after an infield hit by Hmielewski, with Biuso scoring on the play as well as Rossi coming home from second on an error by the third baseman.

Mancuso launched his third home run of the season to extend the lead to 8-2 in the fifth, before four runs came across in the sixth. Heyduk doubled to score Morrow, sac flies for Shenman and McCulloch scored Heyduk and Hmielewski either side of Mancuso reaching on an error, with Healy scoring on the play.

Three successive River Hawks were hit by a pitch to start the eighth, and the next two batters singled and walked to score two runs. A sac fly and an infield single scored three more runs to extend the lead to 17-6.

The River Hawks completed the game after eight innings with the ten-run rule in effect, with Applegate allowing one run in the bottom half to keep the ten-run lead intact.

The River Hawks move to 14-16 on the season, including a 10-7 Landmark Conference record. They will face #19 Misericordia next on Tuesday before they take on Drew in a three-game set at Bollinger Field on April 20 and 21.