KANNAPOLIS, NC - Susquehanna baseball were beaten 14-4 by Piedmont University in a seven-inning matinee on Saturday at the D3 Baseball Showcase. An early offensive explosion from Piedmont propelled the Lions to victory.

The River Hawks handed the ball to first-year Zach Plank to make his collegiate debut, and he worked through one and a third innings before making way for fellow first-year Nate Greene, who tossed another inning and a third. A third newcomer took the mound after Greene in Jaden Buechler, who navigated through the end of the fifth inning.

The River Hawks, the designated home team in the contest, found themselves in an 11-0 hole after the Lions had come to the plate three times, but put together a rally in the bottom of the third, with Griffin Shenman reaching on an error, Tony Rossi walking, and Michael Gagliardi singling to set up a four-run rally. Sam Martucci followed with an RBI single, Jack Cahill reached on an error that plated two runners, and CJ Orrego singled home Martucci to make it 11-4.

Evan Applegate took the mound for the final two frames, only allowing a solitary unearned run and punching out one. Martucci led the way at the dish, going 3-for-4 on the day, with Gagliardi the other River Hawk with multiple hits, as the shortstop went 2-for-3 while contributing in his fourth plate appearance with a walk. Orrego and Joe Healy also managed hits in the contest.

The River Hawks drop to 0-2 in the young 2025 campaign, and they take on Berry (Ga.) on Day 3 of the D3 Baseball Showcase at the home of the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers. The two sides have met in each of the last two years, with Susquehanna emerging victorious in 11 innings in the first meeting in 2023.