By Rachael Cataldo, Asst. sports editor
The Susquehanna baseball team went 3-5 during its Spring Training trip to Port Charlotte, Florida.
Susquehanna fell to Arcadia 16-12 on Sunday, March 11 at the North Charlotte Stadium.
The River Hawks split their second day in Florida on Monday, March 12. Susquehanna fell to Marietta College 13-7 and then defeated Ohio Wesleyan 13-7.
Ohio Wesleyan scored in the bottom of the first, but Susquehanna answered quickly in the top of the second inning.
Senior infielder Cole Luzins doubled to center field and senior infielder Tom Giaimo doubled to left center to bring Luzins home. Freshman catcher Peter Yarem singled and Giaimo scored.
Ohio Wesleyan took their lead back after scoring three runs in the bottom of the second 4-2.
The River Hawks got their bats moving and scored seven runs in the top of the third to make the score 9-4. Sophomore outfielder Justin Miller, junior outfielder Nick Berger, Luzins, and sophomore infielder Craig Roumes all had RBI hits in the inning.
A groundout by junior infielder Ben Burman allowed Miller to score in the fourth inning. Miller and Giaimo had RBI doubles in the sixth inning to give Susquehanna a 13-4 lead.
Sophomore Tyson Thrush got the victory on the mound, pitching six strong innings and striking out five.
Susquehanna had a huge 3-2 comeback victory against nationally ranked Wooster on Tuesday, March 13.
Wooster was ranked sixth in the D3baseball.com national poll. The Scots would be the first team to score in the bottom of the sixth inning with a pair of runs.
The River Hawks got on the board in the eighth inning when Yarem brought Luzins home on an RBI ground out.
In the top of the ninth, Susquehanna trailed 2-1. Miller started the inning with a single and eventually scored the tying run on a hit by Berger. Luzins kept the bats going and doubled to right-center to score Berger and secure the 3-2 lead.
Sophomore Bobby Grigas worked around a leadoff single in the bottom of the ninth to clinch the victory and pick up his first career save.
Freshman Will Carey picked up the win on the mound after pitching 1 and 1/3 shutout innings in relief.
The River Hawks defeated North Central 7-5 in their second straight comeback victory against a nationally ranked team on Thursday, March 15.
North Central was ranked fourth in the D3baseball.com national poll.
Susquehanna took the first lead of the game in the top of the second inning. Berger and Giaimo were walked. Yarem knocked in a double to right field to bring home a runner to make the score 1-0.
The Cardinals answered and scored three runs to take the lead 3-1 in the bottom of the fourth inning. North Central brought in another run in the bottom of the sixth to advance its lead 4-1.
Susquehanna rallied for six runs in the top of the seventh inning to secure the lead. Berger reached base on an error by the right-fielder, allowing Miller to score.
Luzins tied the game with a two-run double. Giaimo was hit by a pitch and Yarem singled to left field to bring Luzins home.
Giaimo and Yarem also made their way home for the River Hawks to take a 7-4 lead.
Damiano pitched a quiet ninth inning and Susquehanna came back to win the game 7-5.
Grigas started for the River Hawks and pitched 5 1/3 innings. Grigas struck out four Cardinals.
Damiano got the win on the mound and threw for 3 2/3 innings in relief. Damiano struck out two and only gave up one unearned run.
“Getting the win against a team of that caliber was an unreal feeling,” Damiano said. “North Central is without a doubt one of the best teams we’re going to face this year and knowing I was a part of that win feels amazing.”
“It was a great preview of how good we can be. Our record may not show that, but we are one of those top teams out there,” junior pitcher Sean Rodriguez said.
The River Hawks dropped a tough 11-9 decision to Nichols College on Friday, March 16.
The Susquehanna River Hawks tied the game in the bottom of the ninth but dropped a tough 6-5 loss against SUNY Canton on Saturday, March 11.
Susquehanna dropped a 5-2 decision to Amherst in the second game of the day on Saturday, March 11 during the final game of the Spring Training trip. Rodriguez got the win.