SELINSGROVE, PA - Susquehanna University's baseball team opens up play in Kannapolis, NC on February 20, and as of today know where they stand in the Landmark Conference preseason picture with a number-six ranking in the Preseason Poll, as voted on by the coaches. The River Hawks earned 30 points. Ahead of SU in the poll is Lycoming College (37 points), University of Scranton (45 points), Elizabethtown College (51 points), Catholic University (54 points), and Wilkes University (62 points).
Under the supervision of head coach Denny Bowers, Susquehanna looks to reestablish themselves as one of the top teams in the Landmark Conference. Coming off a year that the team just missed the playoffs, Susquehanna looks poised and ready to make a post season push once more. Welcoming back star players in the likes of
Dylan Heyduk,
Evan Applegate, and
Michael Gagliardi, SU looks to command their way to their first Landmark Conference Championship since winning it in 2023.
RETURNING STAT LEADERS:
Dylan Heyduk, Senior Outfielder
- Appeared in 38 games, starting all 38...earned 128 at-bats, 52 free passes, including 32 walks and 20 hit by pitches...connected with 39 hits during the season...stole 8 bags on 10 attempts...finished the season with a .305 batting average
Evan Applegate, Junior Pitcher
- Named Landmark Baseball Pitcher of the Week for his performance against Misericordia 3/7, pitching 5.1 innings without surrendering an earned run and only allowed four hits, one unearned run, and three strikeouts...finished the season pitching 47.0 innings, allowing only 46 hits...struck out batters during the 2025 campaign...wrapped up the season with a 4.98 ERA
Michael Gagliardi, Junior Infielder
- Started all 40 games at shortstop... held the second-highest batting average on the team at .325, going 51-for-157... recorded 11 doubles with 33 RBIs and just nine strikeouts... ranked fourth with a .402 on-base percentage, drawing 18 walks... had two games with at least three hits, coming back-to-back against Catholic April 12-13, including a two-RBI day in the latter... had a four-RBI day to defeat defending national champion Misericordia on March 7, recording two sacrifice flies and a two-RBI single.
Jaden Buechler, Sophomore Infielder/Pitcher
- Appeared in 6 games as a pitcher, working 8.1 innings on the mound...recorded 8 strikeouts, with a season high of three coming against Piedmont on 2/22/25...finished the pitching season with an 8.64 ERA...appeared in 31 games as a fielder, starting all but 5 games...earned 109 at-bats, connecting on 35...stole 10 bags, on 12 attempts...finished the 2025 campaign with a .321 batting average
