April 26: Susquehanna 10, Stevenson 9; Susquehanna 15, Stevenson 10

SELINSGROVE, Pa. -- Sophomore infielder Erik Tuomisto (Northumberland, Pa./Shikellamy) and senior pitcher/outfielder John Lunardi (Exton, Pa./Henderson) combined to bat 11-for-15 with nine runs and 12 runs batted in to help lead Susquehanna University to a non-conference doubleheader sweep of visiting Stevenson University, 10-9, 15-10, at Harold Bollinger Field on April 26.

Tuomisto went 5-for-7 on the day with four runs, three doubles, a sacrifice, a homerun and an impressive eight RBI. Lunardi went 6-for-8 with five runs, a walk, a stolen base, a homerun and four RBI, as Susquehanna (24-14 overall) came from behind late in both games against Stevenson (17-24 overall).

The Crusaders trailed Game 1, 8-1, entering the bottom of the sixth inning but scored five times in that frame to narrow the Stevenson lead to 8-6.

The Mustangs added another run in the top of the seventh inning to make it 9-6, but Susquehanna wouldn't go away.

With one run already across in the bottom of the seventh, junior catcher/infielder Chris Price (Coral Springs, Fla./Coral Glades) reached on a fielder's choice to load the bases for senior outfielder Kyle Wertman (Havertown, Pa./Haverford). Wertman came through with a single through the left side that tied the game and put the go-ahead run on second base.

Tuomisto then laid down a sacrifice bunt to put runners at second and third base with one out.

The next batter struck out following a pitching change, but senior infielder Kurt Yannelli (Phoenixville, Pa./Bishop Shanahan) drew a full-count walk to load the basepaths. That set the stage for junior infielder Zack Brigman (Yardville, N.J./Hamilton West), who singled up the middle to bring home Price, end the game and send the SU dugout onto the field to celebrate.

Price batted 0-for-4 in Game 1 but scored two runs and drove in another. Wertman went 2-for-4 with a run. Yannelli was 0-for-2 but walked twice, stole a base and had one RBI. Brigman was 1-for-2.

Susquehanna's sophomore pitcher/infielder Justin Portzline (Selinsgrove, Pa./Selinsgrove Area) hit 2-for-4 in the opener with two runs. Teammate and senior outfielder Tyler Reichard (Danville, Pa./Danville Area) was 1-for-4 with a run and an RBI.

Freshman Jordan Thomas (Westminster, Md./Westminster) earned the pitching win to improve to 4-0 in his collegiate career. All four wins have come in relief. Thomas relieved starting pitcher and senior Jason D'Amico (Red Bank, N.J./Rumson-Fair Haven). Thomas allowed two runs in two innings and struck out one batter. D'Amico threw five innings, allowing 10 hits, three walks five earned runs.

The Crusaders were down 8-3 in Game 2 entering the bottom of the fifth but responded with exactly five runs that inning to tie it.

The Mustangs pushed two runs across the very next inning to take the lead back, 10-8, but SU fought back once more, scoring a remarkable eight runs in the bottom of that frame to spell the final score.

Lunardi led the bottom of the sixth off with a double off the fence in deep center field, followed by a Portzline single that stationed men and first and third.

Reichard followed that with a single to score Lunardi, and after one out, Wertman singled to score Portzline for the tying run.

Following a pitching change, Tuomisto delivered the crushing blow by hammering a three-run homer to left-center.

Two more runs came around for some additional insurance, as SU batted around in the sixth.

Junior infielder/pitcher Ben Leonard (Johnstown, Pa./Shade) then shut things down with a scoreless top of the seventh to seal up the win. Leonard earned his first collegiate pitching win in this game. He surrendered two runs in two innings.

Portzline batted 2-for-4 in the nightcap and scored twice. Reichard went 2-for-3 with a walk, a run, a double, a steal and two RBI. Wertman was 1-for-3 with a walk, a steal, two RBI and three runs.

SU's senior infielder Barry Fetter (Middletown, Pa./Middletown Area) batted 2-for-3 with a walk, two runs and an RBI. Price was 1-for-3, walked and scored. Yannelli was 0-for-2 but walked, scored and sacrificed.

Sophomore Calvin Hug (West Chester, Pa./Unionville) was SU’s starting pitcher. Hug threw three innings and yielded nine hits, two walks and four earned runs. He struck out a team-high two batters. Freshman Matt Lottes (Muttontown, N.Y./Long Island Lutheran) followed Hug with a scoreless fourth inning. Junior pitcher/infielder Jeff Kirch (Morristown, N.J./Morristown) threw a scoreless fifth. Lottes and Kirch both notched one K.

Lunardi's homerun in Game 1 was his Landmark Conference-leading eighth this season. The eight HR tie Bill Sofio for fifth place in Susquehanna's single-season record book. Sofio hit eight HR in 1988. Four Crusaders have hit nine HR in one season, including Price, who did that last year.

Reichard has now walked 64 times in his career. The school record is 65, set by Brad Moore from 1974-77.