SELINSGROVE, PA - Susquehanna University Baseball opened their three-game series with Catholic Saturday afternoon, using two runs in the sixth to break a 2-2 tie and hold on for a 4-3 victory.
Ben Gearhart pitched six solid innings to improve to 4-0 on the year as
Luke Goodwin closed it out in three innings of relief.
HOW IT WENT DOWN
- In a moderately-paced game that started at 3:00 p.m., both sides combined for 15 hits, nine by Catholic and six from Susquehanna.
- Of the River Hawks' four runs, only the first run was a result of a base hit as Lincoln Hower singled in a run in the bottom of the second to cut into Catholic's lead at 2-1. The Cardinals plated two in the top half of the second thanks to a pair of RBI singles.
- The visitors' lead didn't last long as Susquehanna tied it up in the bottom of the third. With Dylan Heyduk on third, Lucas Zachesky hit a sacrifice fly to left field to bring him home and tie the game at 2-2.
- Gearhart settled in and cruised through the next four innings after allowing two in the second. His final stat line was six innings pitched with four strikeouts and eight hits allowed.
- The River Hawks' bats picked up their starter with a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth. The team went on a two-out rally. With the bases loaded after an error, Michael Girardi was hit by a pitch to force home the go-ahead run. On the next at bat, Heyduk drew a walk for an insurance run, marking his 100th career walk in a River Hawks uniform and more importantly a 4-2 lead.
- Goodwin came on to pitch the seventh, leaving two on base to get out of the inning unscathed.
- Cathoilc tried to rally in the eighth, at least being successful in getting a run on the board to tighten Susquehanna's lead to 4-3 after a sacrifice fly with the bases loaded. The Cardinals had runners on first and second with two outs, but Goodwin came back to force Sammy Burman into a groundout to short to end the inning.
- Catholic's Lance Eilbacher led off the ninth getting hit by a pitch. A sacrific bunt pushed him to second with Jack Bateman coming to bat. Goodwin struck out Batemen for the second out, though Eilbacher stole third in the exchange.
- Chris Esquivel was CUA's last hope. With a 2-2 count to work with, Goodwin struck him out swinging to end the game.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Hower led the River Hawks with two hits, batting 2-for-4 with one RBI. All six of Susquehanna's hits came on singles, featuring one each from Michael Gagliardi, Paul Daly, Jaden Buechler, and CJ Orrego.
- Heyduk's milestone walk was the team's only base on balls Saturday, though they were plunked four times to reach base, with Daly getting hit twice as he chalked up two runs.
UP NEXT FOR THE RIVER HAWKS
- The River Hawks continue their series with the Cardinals on Sunday, beginning at 12 noon at Harold Bollinger Field.
