BETHLEHEM, PA - Susquehanna baseball closed out its 2025 season at Moravian, battling to the end but ultimately being dealt two defeats that eliminated them from postseason contention.
Game 1: Moravian 10, Susquehanna 3
It was an early strike for Moravian in game one of the doubleheader, with Cole Cherkas hitting a two-run home run in the bottom of the first after a scoreless top half. Susquehanna took the lead in the third, tying the game on a two-run double by senior Tyler Hmielewski in the leadoff spot. Tony Rossi followed him with a fielder's choice where Hmielewski came around to score on a throwing error. However, the Greyhounds answered back with three runs of their own, including a two-run double to match Hmielewski's effort. That proved to be the final inning of work for Evan Applegate, who took the loss and struck out one. Moravian scored in the fifth to make it 6-3, and capped off the opener with four more in the seventh.
Nate Greene tossed 1.2 scoreless innings for the River Hawks. Susquehanna recorded five hits, including two by Hmielewski. Rossi, Dylan Heyduk, and Michael Gagliardi also hit safely.
Game 2: Moravian 8, Susquehanna 4
Susquehanna recorded ten hits, but were undone by ten runners left on base in the nightcap. The visiting River Hawks were first on the scoreboard, tallying through Hmielewski on a Gagliardi infield single after Hmielewski reached on an error and stole second. Rossi started on the mound and surrendered three runs in the first two innings to put the Greyhounds in front. His pitching outing finished in the bottom of the third. In the top half of the third, Susquehanna recorded three doubles, first by Gagliardi, advancing Heyduk to third after a walk. A Jaden Buechler groundout resulted in an RBI for the first-year, as Heyduk came in from third. CJ Orrego followed with the second double to score Gagliardi, and Lucas Zachesky gave Susquehanna the lead with another two-bagger. However, Moravian jumped ahead 5-4 with two more in the third, led 7-4 after four frames and 8-4 after five. The game would stay at that scoreline until the final out was recorded. Rossi took the loss, and was followed on the mound by Max Lipton, who threw one inning, and Ben Gearhart completed the River Hawks' season with 4.2 innings without allowing an earned run.
At the end of the 2025 campaign, Susquehanna's record stands at 18-22. They finished 11-13 in Landmark play, just a solitary game out of playoff contention. The River Hawks say goodbye to thirteen seniors that helped the team capture the 2023 Landmark crown, but with 40 games of experience under the returners' belts, they will look eagerly ahead to the 2026 season.
