SELINSGROVE, Pa. — A trio of players tallied two-hit games for the Lycoming College baseball team, who fell 8-6 in 11 innings at Susquehanna University in a Landmark Conference matchup on Wednesday, April 8 at Harold Bollinger Field.
Susquehanna (16-11, 7-5 Landmark) won on Paul Daly's two-out, two-run walk-off home run in the bottom of the 11th.
Lycoming (14-15, 7-9 Landmark) took the lead in the top of the first inning, loading the bases with one out. With two down, senior Josh Bottger (Wilkes-Barre, Pa. / Wilkes-Barre Area) was hit by a pitch to force in a run. A Susquehanna throwing error followed, scoring two more runs to give Lycoming a 3-0 advantage.
Lycoming added to the advantage one inning later when sophomore Kaden Shay (South Williamsport, Pa. / South Williamsport Area) led off with a single and worked his way around the bases, scoring on a passed ball for a 4-0 advantage.
Warrior first-year starter Brayden Maksimik (Shenandoah, Pa. / Shenandoah Valley) turned in three scoreless innings to start the his afternoon before allowing a two-out RBI single in the fourth to C.J. Orrego, which ended his day after 3 2/3 innings of one-run ball.
Lycoming then turned around and expanded the lead in the fifth. After two hits began the inning, Bottger drove in his second run of the afternoon on a groundout, then senior Nick Hoheb (Brick, N.J. / Brick Township) stroked an RBI single that boosted the Warrior lead to 6-1.
Susquehanna began to chip away in the bottom of the frame, as Michael Gagliardi responded with a two-run home run. The River Hawks pulled even with a three-run seventh.
The River Hawks had an opportunity to win the game in the ninth, putting two on and no out, but Lycoming senior reliever Grayson Rinker (Jersey Shore, Pa. / Montoursville Area) retired the next three men, stranding the tying run at third to send the game to extra innings.
Seniors Sean Perkins (Berlin, N.J. / Eastern Regional) and AJ Llorente (Williamsport, Pa. / Montoursville Area), plus junior Eric MacCluen (Downingtown, Pa. / Bishop Shanahan) all posted two hits apiece, with Perkins also drawing three walks as he reached five times. Shay also reached five times on a hit and four walks. Hoheb drove in three runs and Bottger drove in two.
Daly had a double, a home run, and four RBI for Susquehanna, while Gagliardi homered and drove in a pair. A.J. Ozarowski threw the final 3 2/3 scoreless innings in relief to earn the win.
The Warriors will be back in action this weekend as they open a three-game Landmark Conference series against the University of Scranton with a Saturday afternoon doubleheader. First pitch from Brandon Park is scheduled for noon on April 11.
