Photo By Nick Williams, Assistant News Editor
By Matt Guear
The baseball team (19-20, 15-9) swept Wilkes (21-15, 11-12) in a three-game series last weekend at Bollinger Field.
The River Hawks celebrated their senior day in fashion by completing the sweep on Sunday, winning by a score of 8-5.
The Colonels took a 2-0 lead in the first after employing a double steal to score the first run of the game. Junior Zack Luksic then singled to make the game 2-0.
The River Hawks answered in the bottom of the inning, scoring three thanks to senior Michael Biuso’s double that drove in senior Sean McCulloch for their first run and the wildness of junior pitcher Tegan Shortlidge, who walked in the other two runs.
Junior Tony Rossi hit a sacrifice fly in the second inning that resulted in the fourth run of the game for Susquehanna, which was Rossi’s 100th career run-batted-in.. Susquehanna added an additional run to make the score 5-2 heading into the 3rd inning.
Wilkes got a run back in the 3rd inning thanks to a solo home run from first-year Matthew Show and another in the 4th after first-year Nathan Loch doubled.
The River Hawks pulled away in the bottom half of the inning after employing a double steal of their own that plated Rossi. Senior Tyler Hargus then doubled to make the score 7-4.
“It’s been a little bit since I’ve had a start due to all my injuries and stuff,” said Hargus. “(I was) just really happy to get out there and, you know, be able to put the bat to the ball.”
Susquehanna added another run in the sixth inning to add to their lead. Wilkes would score again in the eighth to pull within three runs.
The River Hawks ultimately won the game after junior closer Vincent Mariella collected the last three outs to complete the sweep.
While the River Hawks got the win, the sweetest moment of the day was when senior Tegan Duffie, a pitcher by trade who has been hampered by injuries this season, got in the batter’s box and collected the first hit of his collegiate career.
“I haven’t done it in four years, but it was really fun,” said Duffie. (I) can’t pitch for the rest of the year, so it’s a lot of fun to get up there and take some hacks.”
Susquehanna won both legs of the double header played on Saturday, April 27 by scores of 4-3 and 7-3 respectively.
After a non-conference contest on Tuesday, it’s on to the Landmark Conference Tournament, which begins the following Tuesday.
“Everything that’s happened this season is past us now. You know, we’re in the postseason. We’re in our element when we got stuff going,” said Hargus. “You know, we got the pressure, we got the fire under us. It’s gonna be fun.”
