SELINSGROVE, PA - Susquehanna baseball continued its home stand with a Saturday Landmark Conference doubleheader split against the University of Scranton, falling 13-1 and winning 13-3 with both games shortened by the run rule.

Game 1: Scranton 13, Susquehanna 1 (7 innings)

Susquehanna were first on the board after three shutout innings from sophomore left-hander Evan Applegate, but were ultimately undone by a run in the fourth, a seven-run fifth, and additional contributions in the sixth and seventh frames by the Royals.

The River Hawks got their run in the bottom of the third inning before they had recorded a hit, with three walks aided by a sac bunt by Lucas Zachesky loaded the bases, before Tony Rossi's fielder's choice scored Tyler Hmielewski.

However, the Royals equalized the following half-inning, and after chasing Applegate after 4+ innings, they jumped out 8-1 after four and a half innings.

The River Hawks were only able to muster two hits in the contest, coming off the bats of Sam Martucci and Jaden Buechler. Applegate was stuck with a loss, allowing three earned on three hits, while Alec Kulp and Robert Kramer combined to record the final nine outs. 

Game 2: Susquehanna 13, Scranton 3 (7 innings)

The second game was all change, with the River Hawks jumping out of the gate to lead 10-0 after three innings of play in the nightcap. The first inning was strong, with a double for Dylan Heyduk and a single by Rossi opening the scoring, before CJ Orrego scored Rossi with a base knock of his own. Martucci would come across to score in the final play of the half-inning when Buechler forced him across after being picked off and hanging around in the rundown long enough for Martucci to cross the plate.

The home side batted around in the second, with Hmielewski starting a rally with a double over the head of the Scranton right fielder. Zachesky walked as Hmielewski stole third, then the first-year Zachesky stole second himself. Heyduk dropped a bloop single into center for an RBI, then stole second as Zachesky stole third in a double steal. Rossi walked, Michael Gagliardi brought home two with a single, and that set up Martucci to come through in an RBI situation, driving a ball the opposite way that cleared the right field fence for his first collegiate home run. 

Hmielewski added the tenth Susquehanna tally in the third when he scored on a wild pitch, but Scranton responded with a three-run frame against Jack Greco, who picked up the win after working five innings and allowing four hits. He was relieved by Max Lipton, who punched out one while allowing a solitary hit in the final two frames.

A Heyduk single followed by a deep Rossi double that hit the wall in right center scored a run in the sixth, while Martucci added to his impressive day by singling to score Rossi to make it 12-3. Four walks in the seventh allowed the River Hawks to wrap the game up early, with Gagliardi's scoring Hmielewski to end the game.

After splitting the doubleheader, Susquehanna moves to 12-9 around the midway point of the season, and 5-4 in the Landmark as they look to secure a come-from-behind series win when they take on Scranton on Sunday, March 30th for the series finale. They open April on the first of the month next, traveling to Penn St.-Harrisburg.