FORT PIERCE, FL - Susquehanna baseball beat 2024 Division III national champions No. 11 Misericordia 8-4 as well as Northwestern (MN) 4-1 to improve to 6-1 in their last seven games, including 5-1 on their spring break ledger.

Game 1: Susquehanna 8, No. 11 Misericordia 4

Susquehanna claimed an 8-4 win over 11th-ranked Misericordia in the 10 AM start to the day, with Evan Applegate not giving up an earned run in 5.1 innings of work. Misericordia put across a run in the bottom of the first, but were held off the board until the eighth inning as the River Hawks piled on eight runs.

The first of those eight runs came in the bottom of the third inning, where Dylan Heyduk crossed the plate to tie the game on a sacrifice fly by Michael Gagliardi. Three more followed the next frame, with five of the first six batters walking or singling, with an RBI single from Heyduk and an RBI walk from Tony Rossi scoring Tyler Hmielewski and Vito Demonte respectively. Lucas Zachesky followed them home by scoring on a second sac fly by Gagliardi.

Gagliardi added two more RBI in his next trip to the plate in the sixth, with a base hit plating Rossi and Zachesky. Zachesky singled and stole second, while Rossi was put aboard with an intentional walk before also swiping second.

Zach Plank was the first from the bullpen for Susquehanna, and he retired the first four batters he faced, as well as a runner he inherited being caught stealing by CJ Orrego, to get the River Hawks to the bottom of the seventh where they added two more runs. After a double by Demonte, four straight batters were given free passes, with Zachesky and Jaden Buechler loading the bases to set up RBI walks by Heyduk and Rossi.

After Misericordia got three runs back in the top of the eighth, Max Lipton came from the bullpen to toss a scoreless ninth inning, inducing a double play ball to wrap things up.

Game 2: Susquehanna 4, Northwestern (MN) 1

Jack Greco struck out seven in six innings of work, while the River Hawks drew eight walks as they won the second game of the day 4-1 over University of Northwestern (MN).

The first four innings were scoreless as Greco dueled the Eagles starter, Nick Drinken, before both sides broke through for a run in the fifth. Susquehanna's came after Orrego singled and advanced to second on a sac bunt by Owen Ayers, and moved to third and later scored on two wild pitches.

Orrego crossed the plate again in the seventh, scoring the run that proved to be decisive after walking and stealing second, advancing to third on a wild pitch and scoring on a passed ball. Griffin Shenman also scored in the seventh after walking, as he came around to score on a wild pitch after being moved to third by Heyduk and Rossi.

Greco lasted six innings on the mound for the River Hawks, allowing four hits and walking one while punching out seven. The run on his line was unearned, and thanks to the runs by Orrego and Shenman in the seventh, he left the game with the lead and earned the win. Dominic Giglio relieved him and did not give up a hit over three innings as he earned a save.

Orrego reached on an error in the eighth inning, bringing home Rocco Scarpitti who had walked.

Orrego and Rossi both recorded three hits between the two games, with Orrego putting together two of the River Hawks' four hits and runs in the second game. Rossi had an impressive day, reaching base ten times from ten plate appearances on three hits and seven walks. They both also swiped two bases.

With the two wins, Susquehanna moves two games above .500 for the first time this season at 6-4. The River Hawks will complete their spring break games on Saturday, March 8, taking on Capital University in a doubleheader in Vero Beach. They start Landmark play a week later, when they travel to Drew for a three-game series.