TYSONS CORNER, VA - Susquehanna baseball rallied in the ninth inning to the tune of six unanswered runs in a 9-7 decision against Catholic in Saturday's series opener. Eighteen hits by Susquehanna, including seven in the final frame, propelled them to the win.

The game started as a pitcher's duel, with both starters keeping the opposition off the board until the top of the fifth, when a Christian Biuso knock plated Tyler Hmielewski, who had also singled before advancing to third on an error and a passed ball.

While the River Hawks were unable to capitalize on eight hits through the first seven innings off Catholic starter Roman Tozzi, Evan Applegate kept the Cardinals quiet through the first six frames. However, seven runs crossed in the bottom half of the seventh, with the Cardinal rally culminating in a grand slam. Applegate was excellent, however, tossing a career-high 6.1 innings and fanning a career-high five batters. Three of the seventh-inning runs came on his line.

Down 7-1 going into the eighth, the River Hawks kept their hopes alive with two eighth-inning runs on a Sam Martucci single, a productive groundout by CJ Orrego, and then a triple by Hmielewski, who scored on another Biuso single to make it 7-3. Robert Kramer navigated a two-out walk to throw a hitless bottom of the eighth.

The visitors came roaring back in the ninth, with six of the first seven batters singling. Tony Rossi, Michael Gagliardi and Orrego loaded the bases with hits, and Jaden Buechler scored two with a single that necessitated a pitching change. Hmielewski loaded the bases again with a single, Lucas Zachesky brought home Orrego, and Biuso picked up a third RBI on the day with a walk. Another pitching change followed, and Dylan Heyduk came through to give Susquehanna the lead with a two-run single that made it 9-7.

Kramer collected the win, while Zach Plank filled the role of closer with a hitless ninth to earn a save, the first of his career. The River Hawks were led offensively by Hmielewski's 4-for-5 day, as he scored three runs. Biuso went 2-for-4 with a walk and three RBI, and Gagliardi added three hits as all nine Susquehanna batters recorded hits.

The River Hawks finish the three-game set at Catholic with a Sunday doubleheader on March 13th, before returning home to take on Misericordia on Tuesday, March 15th. They move back to .500 at 6-6 in the Landmark and 13-12 on the campaign.