Photo Courtesy of Susquehanna Athletics
By Abrielle Tutino
The opening game of Landmark Conference play between the Susquehanna River Hawks and Wilkes Colonels unfolded as a tight defensive battle with Wilkes ultimately claiming a 5–3 victory Saturday afternoon in Selinsgrove.
For much of the game, both teams struggled to generate offense. Wilkes recorded the first two hits of the game against Susquehanna starting pitcher Luke Goodwin, while Susquehanna’s first hit against starting pitcher AJ Levandoski did not come until the second inning when Lincoln Hower singled to shortstop.
The River Hawks were the first to break through. In the bottom of the third inning, senior Dylan Heyduk worked his way on base and later came around to score when junior Paul Daly doubled to left field, putting Susquehanna in front 1–0.
Moments later, sophomore Lucas Zachesky laid down a bunt that brought junior Andrew Haussman across the plate, extending the River Hawks’ lead to 2–0 heading into the fourth inning.
After loading the bases in the fourth, junior Nathan Loch drew a walk that forced in a run for Wilkes, trimming the Susquehanna lead to 2–1.
Despite the pressure, the River Hawks’ pitching staff managed to limit further damage and held the one-run advantage through the middle innings.
The game shifted in the sixth inning, when with runners on base, junior Jack Smale delivered a clutch single to right field that brought home two runs, allowing Wilkes to take its first lead of the afternoon at 3–2.
In the bottom of the eighth inning, the River Hawks capitalized on an opportunity with the bases loaded. Junior Rocco Scarpitti, who came in as a pinch hitter, was hit by a pitch, forcing Zachesky home and tying the game at 3–3 as the contest headed to the ninth inning.
The decisive moment came in the top half of the ninth. After junior Jack Mathis reached base and advanced into scoring position, senior Devin Markert stepped to the plate and launched a two-run home run to right field. The blast was the first homerun of the season for the Colonels and gave Wilkes a 5–3 lead.
Susquehanna mounted one last push in the bottom of the ninth where Michael Gagliardi and Andrew Haussman both drew walks to put the tying runs on base, but the River Hawks were unable to bring them around as Wilkes closed out the contest.
Goodwin finished the game only letting up two hits and one run with six strikeouts and four walked batters in four inning’s pitched. Levandoski pitched in five innings for the Colonels, including five strikeouts and four walks while only allowing two hits and two runs.
Liam Huffman picked up the save when he came in the bottom of the ninth and struck out the final two batters for Susquehanna, giving Wilkes the win.
The River Hawks and Colonels will square up again to finish off their weekend series with a double header Sunday, March 15 with the first game starting at noon, followed by game two starting at 3 p.m. at Harold Bollinger Field.