By Nick Forbes Asst. sports editor
On April 5, the River Hawks’ bats exploded against visiting King’s, as Susquehanna downed the Monarchs 10-1.
The score wasn’t the only impresive thing in the game however. Head Coach Denny Bowers utilized 20 of his players to rattle off 16 hits in the offensive barrage.
Susquehanna got the scoring started in the second inning when senior first baseman Dylan Jenkins hit a single into the gap.
The senior Jenkins advanced to third when fellow senior third baseman Corey Fallon doubled to left-center.
The next batter, sophomore second baseman Ben Burman hit a sacrifice fly to centerfield, scoring Jenkins and giving the River Hawks a 1-0 lead.
Despite not getting a hit in his first at bat, Burman finished the day with two hits in three plate appearances.
It was King’s turn to score in the top of the third inning. After a single put one runner on base, sophomore pitcher Ryan Beckwith walked the next batter, putting runners on first and second.
Beckwith surrendered a single to the next hitter, which scored the runner on second. That was all the Monarchs could muster, as the next hitter grounded into a double play to end the inning.
The River Hawks took control of the game in the fourth inning when Burman’s RBI double gave the team a one-run lead.
Beckwith got himself out of another situation in the fifth, striking out Kings’ freshman catcher Kyle Friebolin with runners on first and second.
In the bottom of the fourth, Burman ripped a double to right center to score junior shortstop Cole Luzins and give the River Hawks control of the game.
Susquehanna scored again in the next inning thanks to RBIs from senior centerfielder Taylor Luckenbill and junior designated hitter Zach Leone.
Beckwith was relieved of his duties after five innings and the River Hawks brought in sophomore James Panzarino to pitch. Beckwith finished the day allowing seven hits and striking out five.
In the sixth inning, Luzins scored again, this time on a senior catcher Tom Shields RBI single.
The River Hawks made the game 8-1 in the seventh inning with a three-run burst.
Leone’s single scored Luckenbill from second base, and one batter later, Jenkins ripped a single to right field to score Leone. Fallon’s double to left was good enough to score the runner from first base.
The River Hawks reached 10 runs in the eighth inning thanks to a two RBI single from sophomore designated hitter Connor Pelletier.
Panzarino pitched three hitless innings, striking out two before senior reliever Liam Conboy was brought in to close out the game.
The win gives Beckwith his first of the season and gives the River Hawks a record of 11-11.
The team travels to Moravian this weeked for a three-game series with the Greyhounds on Saturday, April 8 and Sunday, April 9.
Moravian is 9-12 this season, but the Greyhounds are riding the momentum of a seven-game win streak. They are also 4-3 in Landmark Conference play.
The River Hawks are 4-2 in conference play, and three more conference wins would inch the team closer to the No. 1 seed in the Landmark Conference. Catholic remains in first place with a 6-2 conference record.
