SELINSGROVE, Pa. - Susquehanna University scored eight runs in the sixth and seventh innings to come from behind and defeat Messiah baseball 10-6 on Wednesday afternoon in a nonconference matchup.
With the loss, the Falcons fall to 8-16 on the year, while the win improves the Riverhawks' overall record to 11-16.
Messiah was able to outhit Susquehanna 8-7 in the game, but costly errors proved to be the difference as the Falcons committed three and the Riverhawks none. Falcon pitching also walked 10 Riverhawks and hit four batters.
Derek Freed and
Josh Hayner had two hits apiece for Messiah, with Hayner recording two RBI and a run scored.
Colin Fry had just one hit but knocked in three runs to aid the Falcon effort.
Glenn Petraitis started the game for Messiah and went 5 2/3 innings, earning the no-decision after allowing four runs on just three hits but walking six.
Carson Spangler pitched well in his two innings of relief, not allowing an earned run and striking out two.
The Falons jumped out early as
Trent Culver and
Derek Freed notched back-to-back singles to open the game and then executed a double steal to put two runners in scoring position with nobody out.
Colin Fry was able to lift a sacrifice fly to center to score Culver, and
Josh Hayner followed with an RBI triple to bring home Freed. Before the inning was over, Hayner would score on a
Kyle Schoen RBI groundout to give the Falcons a 3-0 lead after the first half inning of play.
Susquehanna was able to get two runs back in the bottom of the inning, and each team would follow with three scoreless innings as Messiah still led 3-2 heading into the fifth.
Adam Janney led of the top of the fifth frame with a single and Culver followed with an HBP to put two on with no outs. Janney would score on a fielder's choice off the bat of Fry and Culver made it a pair of runs in the inning as he came home on a
Josh Hayner single.
Holding on to a three-run lead, Messiah ran into trouble in the bottom of the sixth, as Petraitis and
Drew Betz struggled from the mound and surrendered five runs on just three hits to give the Riverhawks a 7-5 advantage. Another sacrifice fly off the bat of Fry would cut the deficit to one in the top of the seventh, but Susquehanna added three more in the bottom of the inning inning to take a 10-6 lead that would stand for the remainder of the game.
The Falcons will now host York College of Pennsylvania tomorrow in their third nonconference game in as many days, with first pitch scheduled for 4:00 p.m.
