SELINSGROVE, PA - Susquehanna University baseball had plenty to celebrate prior to and after their Sunday afternoon game with Drew. The River Hawks recognized their six seniors prior to first pitch as part of Senior Day, honoring
Owen Ayers,
Michael Girardi, Vito Demote, Rob Cangelosi,
Dylan Heyduk and
Jack Cahill. When it got down to business SU looked to finish a series sweep of Drew, though the Rangers posed a challenge holding an 8-2 lead in the sixth. They rallied with five in the bottom half and had it tied at 9-9, where
CJ Orrego walked it off with a drive to right center to score the winning run in from third.
HOW IT WENT DOWN
- Evan Applegate took the mound to start for Susquehanna. After a scoreless first, the Rangers "Drew" first blood as Dylan Gallagher homered for a 1-0 lead.
- The visitors added two more runs in the third as head coach Denny Bowers turned to his bullpen and Dominic Giglio to get the final two outs of the inning.
- The Rangers tacked on two more runs before the inning was over as Matteo Gruendig scored two on a double.
- The River Hawks got one back when Dylan Heyduk's sacrific fly scored CJ Orrego to make it 5-1.
- Drew made it a five-run game again when Frank Master tripled to right center to score a run in the fourth inning to lead 6-1.
- Susquehanna's next run came again on a Heyduk at bat. This time the senior added a hit behind his RBI with a single to score Hower to cut it to 6-2.
- Once again, the Rangers answered back with two runs in the top of the sixth, the first on a single by Zach Maxwell and a groundout from Donofrio to score the run.
- Andrew Hausmman led off with a walk in the bottom of the sixth, then almost naturally the River Hawks and the home crowd got loud.
- Paul Daly followed this with a walk, after which Lucas Zachesky singled to score Haussman to cut it to 8-3.
- Luke Goodwin kept the train moving with his own RBI single to make it 8-4.
- With runners on second and third Orrego grounded out to short, scoring Zachesky to make it 8-5.
- Goodwin was now on third when Lincoln Hower reached first on an error by the third baseman as the deficit was now at two at 8-6.
- Another error got Michael Gagliardi on base, while scoring Girardi as the score read 8-7 through six..
- During the seventh Goodwin, who started at third, became the River Hawks' fifth pitcher of the day, while the DH Daly moved to third.
- The Rangers looked to salvage their lead by adding an insurance run on a double steal to lead 9-7.
- This would be short-lived as Susquehanna made it a one run game in the bottom of the seventh as Orrego doubled to send home Daly.
- The River Hawks made perhaps their biggest statement when they finally tied the game inn the eighth. Heyduk and pinch runner Derek Asche were on first and second, respectively. During Daly's at bat, Heyduk stole third, then a throwing error by the cathc er sent the ball into left field and Heyduk home. Asche nearly made it home as well as he stole second then tried to hold up last minute rounding third before being tagged out.
- Daly led off the bottom of the ninth, forcing a walk with the count full.
- Drew entered a new pitcher, but Susquehanna had already gotten the lead out.
- Zachesky moved Daly to second on a sacrifice bunt, then the pitcher Goodwin helped out his own cause with a single to put Daly on third.
- It was all lined up for Orrego as he skied one to right center field over the outfielder's head to walk it off.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Goodwin picked up his first win of the season, posting one strikeout in 2.2 innings of hitless work.
- Max Lipton, who showcased another talent singing the national anthem prior to the game, led the five-man SU pitching staff Sunday with three strikeouts over 2.1 innings. The starter Applegate struck out two pitching the first 2.1 innings.
- Susquehanna managed nine hits on the day, including two from Goodwin, Orrego and Hower.
- Orrego had three RBIs, while Heyduk had two ribbies and one hit. Heyduk also stole two bases.
- Daly and Haussman, who have become known for their heavy bats as of late, let their patience at the plate reign supreme Sunday as each drew two walks.
UP NEXT FOR THE RIVER HAWKS
- Susquehanna improves to 19-11 overall and 10-5 in the Landmark entering the rubber match of their series with Juniata at home on Tuesday.
- Their next Landmark series sees them heading to Elizabethtown this weekend April 18-19.
