MADISON, NJ - Susquehanna baseball opened Landmark Conference play against a foe it met in the Landmark Play-In Game in 2024, sweeping a doubleheader against Drew to start their conference season on the best possible note.

Game 1: Susquehanna 10, Drew 6

Susquehanna used two rallies for five runs in the first and four runs in the seventh to beat Drew in the 12 PM series opener, scoring the insurance runs in the seventh to go up 10-5 and never looking back.

The five-run first happened all with two outs, starting with an RBI ground-rule double by CJ Orrego to score senior Tony Rossi. Orrego and Michael Gagliardi would come around to score on a two-run single by Jack Cahill to make it 3-0. After Cahill advanced to second and stole third, Tyler Hmielewski walked, stole second, and both scored on Lucas Zachesky's single to left center.

Drew clawed back, however, knotting the game at 5-5 after scoring three in the bottom half of the first, one in the second, and another in the third.

Another walk and stolen base by Hmielewski allowed him to advance to third on a sac bunt by Zachesky and score on a groundout by Jaden Buechler in the top of the fourth.

Evan Applegate, after a Landmark Pitcher of the Week tag, worked 3.2 innings in the series opener, surrendering five earned runs, and exited for Zach Plank, who worked into the eighth, also going 3.2 innings, not allowing an earned run while punching out five. Plank collected the win after the River Hawks tacked on four more in the seventh.

Again, the runs all came with two outs, after a leadoff double by Rossi and a walk behind him by Gagliardi, Sam Martucci moved them over with a sacrifice bunt. Orrego scored Rossi with a sacrifice fly to right field, and after an RBI single by Cahill to score Gagliardi and a single by Hmielewski, the next three batters, Zachesky, Buechler, and Dylan Heyduk, all walked, scoring two runs in the process.

Drew got an unearned run in the bottom of the seventh, with Raiden Yost scoring on a sacrifice fly by Will Fritch.

Jacob Klotz was the final pitcher the River Hawks used in the first game, throwing 1.2 innings and collecting a save in his first appearance as a River Hawk.

Game 2: Susquehanna 13, Drew 4

Susquehanna exploded for 13 runs in the second game of the doubleheader, posting a seven-run ninth inning to ensure the victory.

The Rangers struck first off starter Jack Greco, scoring two runs in the bottom half of the first, but Greco settled in on the bump, striking out eight over six innings of work, while not surrendering a run from the second through the sixth. He was relieved by Christian Rossi, who navigated through the final three frames, allowing two runs, one earned, and fanning a career-high five Rangers. Greco collected a third win of the year while Rossi earned a first career save.

The River Hawks took the lead in the third inning on a three-run blast by Tony Rossi, plating Heyduk and Zachesky with two away with an opposite-field shot to right, his third home run of the season. They added three more in the fifth, with three walks and a hit scoring one before the Drew starter was chased from the game. The reliever surrendered a two-run double off the bat of Martucci, making it 6-2 Susquehanna.

Drew got a run back in the bottom of the seventh after the stretch, with Yost's RBI single scoring Frank Master.

In the final frame, the River Hawks sent 11 batters to the plate, with seven scoring. After a hit by pitch and two walks, the first pitching change of the inning was made, before the new arm allowed five consecutive singles, with RBIs for Hmielewski and Zachesky alongside two for Buechler and Heyduk. Vito Demonte completed the rally with an RBI on a fielder's choice, and the Susquehanna pitcher Rossi closed the door in the bottom of the inning to earn a doubleheader sweep and a series win with a game to go on Sunday.

WIth the two wins, Susquehanna moves to 9-5 and 2-0 in the Landmark Conference. They take on Drew one more time before a trip to Keystone on Thursday, March 20, and the home opener takes place the following Saturday when Lycoming come to Bollinger Field.