LANCASTER, PA - Susquehanna University baseball reserved a spot for Saturday in the Landmark Conference Tournament, beating Drew in the opening game Friday by a 12-5 score. The River Hawks advance to play Scranton tomorrow at 11 a.m. in the winner's bracket.
HOW IT WENT DOWN
- Starting pitcher Josh Domaracki got off to a shaky start. An early fielding error opened the door for Drew to score two runs in the top of the first to take a 2-0 lead.
- The River Hawks' lineup picked up Domaracki in the bottom half with six runs. After a Paul Daly sacrifice fly made the score 2-1, third baseman Jaden Buechler delivered a bases-loaded RBI double to score three and put Susquehanna up 4-2.
- Leadoff hitter Michael Girardi added to the calamity, scoring two on a bases-loaded double of his own.
- One inning later Susquehanna scored three more thanks to Lucas Zachesky's sacrifice fly and Lincoln Hower's two-RBI single.
- The seven-run lead fueled Domaracki to record ten strikeouts in six-plus innings of work, allowing just five hits with two earned runs.
- Susquehanna added two more runs in the fifth when Andrew Haussman offered a sacrifice fly, followed by Buechler adding in another run off a fielder's choice to lead 11-2.
- The River Hawks shook off a three-run home run by Drew in the seventh as shortstop Michael Gagliardi crushed one over the tall wall in right center to make it 12-5.
- Reliever Nate Fronheiser closed the door the last three innings, allowing just three hits.
- Susquehanna totaled 15 hits, with Gagliardi and Hower leading with three apiece. Haussman and Buechler also had two, with Buechler leading with four RBIs.
- Gagliardi finished one triple short of a cycle, gathering one single, a double, and a home run.
UP NEXT FOR THE RIVER HAWKS
- Susquehanna faces four-seed Scranton in the opening game Saturday at 11 a.m. The Royals made it to Saturday thanks to beating three-seed Elizabethtown on Tuesday 13-8.
- The winner heads to the championship bracket Sunday for the 11 a.m. game.
- The remaining Friday games feature Elizabethtown against one-seed Wilkes in the elimination game at 2:30 p.m., with the winner facing Drew Friday at 6 p.m.
