SELINSGROVE, PA - The Susquehanna University baseball team got a well-earned victory to wrap their regular season Saturday afternoon with a 17-7 win over first-place Wilkes in seven innings. The matchup served as both teams' final regular season games ahead of next week's Landmark Conference Tournament. It also offered a spark leading into the tournament as the Colonels and River Hawks clinched the first and second seeds, respectively, heading into Saturday. Susquehanna heads to Lancaster next Friday for what will be the third game of the tournament, while the other four seeds will play in the opening games on Wednesday.
The win over the Colonels gave the home crowd a chance to celebrate head coach Denny Bowers, who reached his 400th career win in 21 years as the team's head coach. It also was a milestone day for junior shortstop
Michael Gagliardi, whose first hit of the day in a 4-for-5 afternoon earned him his 100th career hit.
HOW IT WENT DOWN
- Both teams exchanged blows to start the game as Wilkes and Susquehanna each sent out a myriad of pitchers to slow down the scoring.
- Dane Rue took the bump for the River Hawks to start, going two-plus innings before Zach Plank took over.
- By the top of the third Susqueahnna held a 5-3 lead on the heels of Dylan Heyduk's groundout in the first inning allowing Michael Girardi to score. They then overcame a three-run Wilkes second by scoring four in the home half, thanks to ribbie singles from CJ Orrego and Girardi. Heyduk helped with the game's next two runs as he reached base on an error to to score Orrego, then served as a decoy on a rundown that allowed Girardi to score.
- During this stretch shortstop Michael Gagliardi had his first two hits in a 4-for-5 day. His first-inning single marked the 100th career hit for the junior to much fanfare.
- With Plank on the mound the Colonels regained the lead with three runs to lead 6-5. It wouldn't last long as the River Hawks scored three runs of their own in the bottom half off Heyduk's sacrifice fly and Gagliardi driving in two more on another single.
- Robert Kramer took over in the fourth inning for Plank, retiring his first three batters. Wilkes cut into SU's lead in the fifth with a run to make it 8-7, but the River Hawks answered with a nine-run fifth to put the game full tilt in their favor.
- The Colonels gave the ball to Peyton Klein to start the bottom of the fifth. Two more pitchers would make appearances for Wilkes in the frame as the River Hawks poured in nine runs on seven hits.
- Andrew Haussman opened the scoring with a two-RBI single to lead 10-7. With the bases loaded Lucas Zachesky singled in another run for an 11-7 lead.
- Jaden Buechler reached on a fielder's choice in an attempt by Wilkes to get the force out at the plate. It backfired as Haussman scored to take a 12-7 lead.
- Orrego batted in the next run on a sacrifice fly. With the bases loaded again Girardi walked in another run forf a 14-7 advantage.
- Heyduk added to the scoring with a two-RBI single, then Gagliardi brought home Girardi on another fielder's choice that failed to produce an out for the Colonels.
- Susquehanna's 17-7 lead brought into effect the prospect of a ten-run rule if they held Wilkes scoreless through the next two innings. The River Hawks turned to pitcher Austin Griffith to get them three outs in the sixth. Despite a shaky start and loading the bases, Griffith worked out of trouble with two strikeouts and a foul out.
- The ball then got turned over to pitcher Alec Kulp for the seventh. With Wilkes threatening again with a pair of runners on, Kulp retired two batters looking, both looking, with the latter serving as the game's final out.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Susquehanna and Wilkes each totaled 13 hits. The Colonels committed one more error than the home team, three to two.
- As mentioned, Gagliardi batted 4-for-5 in an impressive day that saw him earn 100 career hits. He had three RBIs.
- Heyduk had five RBIs in a 2-for-4 day, headlined by a two-RBI single and a sacrifce fly.
- The River Hawks' five-man pitching staff combined for six strikeouts, with two each from Griffith and Kulp. Kramer picked up the win, pitching 2.0 innings and one strikeout.
- Haussman and Buechler each tallied a double, with Haussman batting in two runs and Buechler one.
TOURNAMENT TIME!
- The River Hawks clinched the number-two seed for the Landmark Tournament, reserving them a spot in the first game Friday at Penn Medicine Park in Lancaster.
- The other four teams in the double-elimination conference tournament will play in Wednesday's opening games. Top-seed Wilkes will host fifth-seed Drew, while three-seed Elizabethtown hosts fourth-seed Scranton.
- More information on the Landmark Tournament, including tickets and live video, can be found at LandmarkConference.org.
