Wilkes Baseball Drops Landmark Series Finale to Susquehanna 8-5
SELINSGROVE – The Wilkes baseball team wrapped up their Landmark Conference road trip to Susquehanna University with an 8-5 loss at the hands of the River Hawks at Bollinger Field on Sunday afternoon.
The Colonels dropped to 21-15 overall and 11-12 in conference play. Susquehanna, who extended their win streak to three games, improved to 19-20 on the season and 15-9 in the Landmark.
Luke Spencer (Lehman, PA/Lake Lehman) became the Colonels' first base runner of the afternoon when he doubled to left field in the top of the first. The third baseman moved over to third when
Mike Show (Clarks Summit, PA/Abington Heights) ripped a single back to the mound, putting runners on the corners for
Zack Luksic (Shavertown, PA/Dallas). A double steal of second and home put Wilkes up 1-0, then Luksic singled to left center to score Mi. Show and double the lead.
Susquehanna responded in the bottom half of the first frame when the leadoff runner reached on an infield throwing error and was subsequently driven home on a double to left center in the following at-bat. The River Hawks would end up taking a 3-2 lead after a hit-by-pitch and walk, both with the bases loaded, forced home two runs.
The home team would pad their lead with two runs in the bottom of the second on a sacrifice fly to right field and another throwing error. Susquehanna took a 5-2 lead early in the ballgame.
Mi. Show stopped the bleeding in the top of the third with his second home run of the season, a leadoff solo shot to left that cut the deficit to a pair of runs.
In the top of the fourth,
Max Alessi (Wallenpaupack, PA/Wallenpaupack) worked a leadoff walk and moved 90 feet forward on a well-placed sacrifice bunt by
Evan Melberger (West Pittston, PA/Wyoming Area).
Nathan Loch (Effort, PA/Pleasant Valley) followed with a double down the left field line that scored the Colonels' catcher and brought Wilkes within one run of tying the game.
The River Hawks answered right back in the bottom of the fourth with two runs off of a double-steal and a double to left. After four frames, Susquehanna led 7-4.
Wilkes loaded the bases with two outs in the top of the sixth inning, however a groundout to the shortstop ended the threat with no damage on the scoresheet.
Susquehanna tacked on another run in the bottom of the inning after the leadoff batter walked, advanced to third on a steal and wild pitch, then came around to score on an infield groundout. The run put the River Hawks up by a score of 8-4.
Jacob Cambria (Elysburg, PA/Southern Columbia) generated some momentum for the Colonels with a one-out triple to right in the eighth. He crossed the plate thanks to an RBI groundout by Loch. Wilkes now trailed 8-5 with three guaranteed outs remaining.
The Colonels went down in order in the ninth as Susquehanna took the contest 8-5 and completed the series sweep.
Starting pitcher
Tegan Shortlidge (Nescopeck, PA/Berwick) was charged with the loss and fell to 1-2 on the season after allowing five runs in 1.0 inning on the mound. Loch contributed two RBIs with a double while
Luke Spencer (Lehman, PA/Lake Lehman) worked two walks and crossed home plate once.
Anthony Colucci picked up his fourth win of the season, improving to 4-1 after striking out five batters through 5.1 innings. Vincent Mariella closed out the game for Susquehanna in the ninth and was awarded the save. Michael Biuso, Tony Rossi and Tyler Hargus all recorded doubles in the win.
The Colonels return home to Bruggeworth Field on Tuesday, April 30 when they host the University of Scranton for a 3:30 Landmark showdown with the Royals.
