SELINSGROVE, PA (April 7, 2024) – The Susquehanna baseball team earned their third Landmark series win of 2024 on Sunday, taking one of two games in a doubleheader with Moravian to take two of three over the weekend series against the Greyhounds. After a dominant offensive display in game one to earn a 11-2 victory, Moravian was able to rebound and avoid being swept with a 5-1 win to end the weekend.

Game 1: Susquehanna 11, Moravian 2

The offense was firing on all cylinders for the River Hawks, as they racked up 11 runs on 11 hits while also drawing six walks, scoring their first runs in the bottom of the 3^rd inning with a pair of runs on an RBI groundout by Sean McCulloch and an RBI single by Tony Rossi. McCulloch really broke the game open in the following frame as he launched a two-RBI double all the way to the wall in right center field, giving SU a 5-0 advantage over Moravian. He also cemented his legacy as one of the most prolific baserunners in Landmark Conference history as he swiped third base during the next at-bat, registering his 90^th career stolen base and setting a new conference record, doing it in just 117 appearances.

While the offense was working well, starter Anthony Colucci looked just as sharp for the River Hawks. Holding the Greyhounds scoreless for the first four innings, he would ultimately allow just one run in 5.1 innings of work, allowing just five hits while striking out six batters enroute to his second win of the season. After the Greyhounds got their first run of the day in the top of the 5^th, Susquehanna immediately matched it in the bottom of the inning to restore their five-run lead, with Tyler Hargus coming up with a clutch two-out, pinch-hit single through the right side to score Griffin Shenman. The first-year Shenman has continued to make his presence felt since entering the starting lineup over the past week, having reached base safely in every game and going 7 for 16 with four runs scored and five RBIs in his five starts.

The 6^th and 7^th innings were scoreless for both teams, as Kieran Dougherty came in to relieve Colucci and had his own strong outing. He would pitch 2.2 innings, also allowing just one run as Moravian was able to scratch one across in the top of the 8^th on a fielding error. But once more, Susquehanna would come to life in response to a run being scored, taking the score from 6-2 to 11-2 in the bottom of the 8^th as they batted around the order to put together a huge inning. First-year Rocco Scarpitti ripped a lead-off double for his first career collegiate hit, then came home to score two batters later alongside Michael Mancuso as McCulloch knocked another two-RBI hit, this a single up the middle. The senior then got to job home from first as Michael Biuso stepped into the box behind him and launched a shot over the left field fence for a two-run homer, clearing the bases with still no outs for Moravian. The Greyhounds would bring in a new reliever, but his first batter faced was Rossi, who greeted the new arm with a double of his own, beginning the rally anew. The visitors were finally able to get a groundout next, but an error put Cam Eberly on first and Rossi at third, allowing Shenman to pick up an RBI on a sacrifice fly to center field.

Continuing the trend of impactful young players, first-year Robert Kramer entered in the 9^th for just his second collegiate outing and slammed the door on any potential Moravian rally, allowing one hit but striking out a pair of batters to finish off the game.

Game 2: Moravian 5, Susquehanna 1

In stark contrast to the first game of the day, game two proved to be a pitchers' duel, as neither team was able to score until the 6^th inning. Moravian got an incredible day from their starter, who threw a complete game to earn the win and nearly tossed a shutout, seeing the chance just go by the wayside in the bottom of the 9^th inning. The River Hawks had just two hits entering the frame, but Joe Healy broke up the shutout with a pinch-hit solo shot, stepping into the box with one out and launching the first pitch he saw over the left field fence.

Harrison Keeler started for SU and kept up well with Moravian's starter, tossing five scoreless frames while allowing just one hit. His day would end in the 6^th as Moravian broke through, adding three more hits to Keeler's line as they had five total in the inning and scored four of their five runs. Nonetheless, Keeler finished the day with 5.2 innings pitched, no earned runs on four hits and a pair of strikeouts. Vincent Mariella entered to limit the damage in that inning, ultimately doing 1.1 innings of work while giving up two hits and seeing two runs score, neither of which were earned. He also struck out a batter, his 21^st of the season in just 15.1 innings pitched. First-year Evan Applegate finished out the final two innings with an excellent showing, allowing just one hit and walking one batter while striking out a pair.

Now 7-6 in Landmark play and firmly entrenched in a battle for playoff positioning with just over half of their conference games finished, Susquehanna will take on another conference foe at home as Juniata College comes to town on Wednesday for a 3:30 pm contest. Their only opponent being played over multiple weeks instead of in a weekend series, Susquehanna dropped their first game against the Eagles on March 26, falling 10-8 at Juniata's field. The River Hawks will be looking to even up the series on home turf.

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--RIVER HAWKS--