WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. — Senior Nick Hoheb (Brick, N.J. / Brick Township) crushed his first career home run, senior Brody Lindsey (Monrovia, Md. / DeMatha Catholic) swatted his 100th career hit, and six players drove in multiple runs to lead the Lycoming College baseball team to an 18-4 rout of Susquehanna University in seven innings of Landmark Conference action on Wednesday, April 22 at Brandon Park.
Lycoming (17-19, 10-13) set season highs in runs and hits to win the season series over Susquehanna (22-13, 13-7) and stay in the hunt for one of the five slots in Landmark Conference Championship. Seven Warriors tallied multiple hits and six drove in multiple runs in a balanced offensive onslaught.
In the bottom of the first, the Warriors jumped out right away. Senior Nick Reeder (Montoursville, Pa. / Montoursville Area) and Perkins led off the inning with back-to-back triples. Senior AJ Llorente (Williamsport, Pa. / Montoursville Area) followed with an RBI single to bring in a second run. With two outs, senior Josh Bottger (Wilkes-Barre, Pa. / Wilkes-Barre Area) roped an RBI single through the left side to score Llorente for a 3-0 lead.
An inning later, the Warriors added to the lead. With one down, successive infield hits put runners on the corners for Perkins, who dropped down a perfect bunt single to score sophomore Kaden Shay (South Williamsport, Pa. / South Williamsport Area). Lindsey followed two batters later with a sacrifice fly to score Reeder for a 5-0 lead.
Llorente started strong on the mound, striking out four over two scoreless innings before Susquehanna scored twice in the third on a pair of solo home runs.
The right-hander, though, settled down, striking out the next three batters as he ran his total to seven punchouts through four innings, one shy of his career high.
The Warriors then put together another big inning. Shay led off the fourth with a walk, stole second, and moved to third on an errant pickoff before scoring on Perkins' third RBI hit of the afternoon. With two outs, junior Eric MacCluen (Downingtown, Pa. / Bishop Shanahan) ripped an RBI single to left. After a wild pitch put two in scoring position, Bottger rolled a base hit up the middle to score Lindsey and MacCluen, capping off a four-run frame that stretched the lead to 9-2.
Lycoming continued to distance themselves with a six-run fifth. Shay and Reeder led off with singles, then Perkins was plunked to load the bases. Llorente then was hit as well to force in a run. After Lindsey's second sac fly of the day, MacCluen blistered a two-run double to left-center, plating both Perkins and Llorente. The rally continued, though, as four straight walks followed, with free passes to Shay and Reeder forcing in the final two runs of the frame for a 15-2 lead.
Susquehanna did answer with four hits in the sixth, including RBI singles from Lucas Zachesky and C.J. Orrego. However, senior Joel Inman (Berlin, N.J. / Eastern Regional) came on and left the bases loaded.
In the bottom of the sixth, Lindsey led off with his milestone hit to become the third Warrior to reach triple-digit hits in a career. With two on and two outs, Hoheb blasted a 3-2 delivery over the left field fence for the catcher's first career round-tripper, capping off the night.
First year Mikey Biondolillo (Middletown, Del. / Odessa) came on in the seventh and closed out the River Hawks with a scoreless seventh for the run-rule win.
Perkins tallied three hits and three RBI, Reeder had three hits, three runs scored, and an RBI, MacCluen and Bottger notched two hits and three RBI apiece, while Lindsey and Llorente each finished with two hits and two RBI. Shay had two hits, two stolen bases, three runs scored, and an RBI. Llorente (4-1) also worked 5 2/3 innings on the hill, allowing four runs on seven hits, while tying a career best with eight strikeouts and walking only one.
The Warriors will be back in action on Saturday, April 25 when they host Mary Washington in a non-conference doubleheader, which will also be Senior Day for Lycoming baseball. First pitch from Brandon Park is scheduled for noon.
