Photos By Michael Lipscomb
By Abrielle Tutino
In a game that felt more like a full day of baseball than nine innings, Susquehanna and Wilkes combined for 45 total runs in a nearly five-hour offensive marathon Sunday afternoon.
When it was finally over, Wilkes escaped Bollinger Field with a 23-22 victory, scoring 10 runs in the ninth inning, completing an improbable comeback after the River Hawks had appeared to have the game firmly in hand.
The game started with immediate fireworks from the Colonels. Wilkes exploded for nine runs in the first two innings, taking a 9-0 lead and putting Susquehanna in an early hole before many fans had even settled into their seats.
But the River Hawks responded just as quickly. In the bottom of the second inning, Susquehanna delivered one of the biggest rallies of the afternoon, plating nine runs of their own to tie the game 9-9. The avalanche of runs included a two RBI homerun from junior Paul Daly, which was his second of 2026.
The massive inning erased the early deficit and completely shifted the momentum to Susquehanna.
Wilkes briefly reclaimed the lead in the third inning, after junior Jack Smale homered to right center field to make it 10-9, but the River Hawks answered immediately.
Michael Gagliardi launched his own three-run home run later in the inning to give Susquehanna its first lead of the day at 12-10.
“I’ve never played in a game with that much offense,” Gagliardi said. “Our lineup was able to come back from a 9-0 deficit and that shows grit and that a team is never out of it.”
The scoring didn’t slow down from there, as Susquehanna added three runs in the fifth inning, extending its advantage to 15-10.
By the time the River Hawks erupted for five more runs in the eighth inning, they appeared to have put the game away with a commanding 21-13 lead heading into the final frame.
But the ninth inning turned the game upside down one final time, with a head-scratching finish for the River Hawks.
Four pitchers came in to relieve in the ninth inning alone and all four pitchers combined to walk five batters and hit six batters.
Thanks to this, Wilkes loaded the bases early and began chipping away at the deficit. The River Hawks managed to put two outs away after Wilkes scored their first run in the ninth, which only made it worse for Susquehanna.
One run turned into several and suddenly the Colonels had cut the lead 21-18 after a two-run RBI single from senior Evan Melberger. The rally continued as hit batters, walks and timely hits kept the inning alive.
Before Susquehanna could record the third out, Wilkes had scored 10 runs in the inning, stunning the home crowd and flipping the score to 23-21.
Sophomore Jaden Buechler opened the inning with a triple and later scored to trim the deficit to 23-22, bringing the tying run to the plate with a chance to extend the game. But the Colonels recorded the final out to end the contest and cap one of the most chaotic games of the season.
Despite the loss, the River Hawks showed the resilience that has defined the team this season.
“Baseball gets weird sometimes and nine innings is a long game,” Gagliardi said. “We need to stay locked in on the goal until the very last pitch.”
The contest featured 45 total runs, 32 hits and 25 combined walks, highlighting just how relentless the offensive pressure was on both sides throughout the afternoon.
The River Hawks will look to bounce back after the improbable loss when they matchup against Juniata on Thursday, March 19 at 3:30 p.m. at Harold Bollinger field
