The University of Scranton baseball team rallied from an early deficit and erupted late to defeat Susquehanna University, 12-6, in the Landmark Conference Tournament at Penn Medicine Park in Lancaster, Pa.
The Basics
- Final Score: Scranton - 12, Susquehanna -Â 6
- Records: Scranton (27-15); Susquehanna (26-15)
- Win: Krish Patel (1-0); Loss: Tommy Kowaliwskyj (3-1)
How it Happened
- Susquehanna struck early, scoring twice in the 1st inning on a sacrifice fly and a wild pitch to take a 2-0 lead. The River Hawks extended their advantage in the 3rd inning, capitalizing on Scranton defensive miscues to push across two more unearned runs and build a 4-0 cushion. A two-run single in the 5th made it 6-0, as Susquehanna appeared firmly in control through the middle innings.
- Scranton broke through in the 6th inning when Brayden Keller grounded out to drive in John Heitzman, cutting the deficit to 6-1 and sparking momentum for the Royals.
- The turning point came in the 8th inning, when Scranton delivered one of its most explosive frames of the season. Jimmy Lundari started the rally with an RBI single, followed by Jack Portman's three-run double that immediately brought the Royals within striking distance at 6-5. Jared Cassella then ripped a two-run double to give Scranton its first lead of the game. Heitzman added another RBI double, and Joey Granko capped the rally with a bunt single RBI to extend the lead to 9-6.
- Scranton kept the pressure on in the 9th inning. Brayden Keller scored on a wild pitch, Conor Campbell followed with an RBI triple to left center, and Cassella added another RBI single to push the final margin to 12-6. With his triple in the ninth, Campbell set a new program record with 71 hits in a single season.
- Cassella led the offensive surge with a 3-for-6 performance and three RBIs, while Campbell, Heitzman, Keller, and Portman all played key roles in the comeback.
- On the mound, Krish Patel steadied the game out of the bullpen, earning the win with 4.1 innings of work and allowing just two runs while helping bridge the game into Scranton's offensive explosion.
Up Next
- With its win over Susquehanna, Scranton advances in the Landmark Conference Baseball Tournament and will compete in Sunday's championship at 11:00 a.m. at Penn Medicine Park in Lancaster, Pa.
- Scranton will face the winner of Susquehanna and Elizabethtown. The Royals will need just one win on Sunday to be crowned tournament champions. If Scranton drops the opening game, a second game will be played immediately after to determine the conference champion.
- Tickets for Sunday's Championship
