May 1-2 (Landmark Conference championships): Susquehanna 8, USMMA 10

SELINSGROVE, Pa. -- Susquehanna University's senior pitcher/outfielder John Lunardi (Exton, Pa./Henderson) raised his team-leading 2009 batting average to .415 with a 2-for-3 performance, but host Susquehanna fell out of the Landmark Conference championships with a 10-8 loss to the United States Merchant Marine Academy on May 2.

The game was started on May 1 but was suspended due to darkness with No. 1-seeded Susquehanna (24-16 overall) trailing the No.2-seeded USMMA (20-12 overall), 9-8, after seven innings.

SU lost Game 1 of the double-elimination tournament to No. 4 The Catholic University of America, 7-5, on May 1 to get to this game. The USMMA joined the losers' bracket by falling, 18-6, to No. 2 Moravian College later that same day. By losing Game 3 to the Mariners, Susquehanna's 2009 season is complete.

The Crusaders trailed Game 3, 3-0, entering the bottom of the second inning but scored four times in that frame to take their first and only lead of the game.

The Mariners fought back and hung five runs on the board in the third inning for an 8-4 advantage.

SU got one of those runs back in the fourth, but the USMMA scored one more in the sixth for a 9-5 cushion.

The Crusaders began to chip away from there, scoring two runs in their half of the sixth on a one-out double to left-center field by junior catcher/outfielder Don Kirkland (Kennett Square, Pa./Unionville).

A pop out, two walks and a pitching change later, the bases were loaded, but the Crusaders left the go-ahead run on first base by grounding out to end the inning still trailing, 9-7.

With two outs and daylight fading in the bottom of the seventh, SU's senior outfielder Kyle Wertman (Havertown, Pa./Haverford) singled to keep the inning alive and reached second on a throwing error by the third basemen. Sophomore infielder Erik Tuomisto (Northumberland, Pa./Shikellamy) then reached on a fielding error by the shortstop, scoring Wertman for the day's final run.

Day Two picked up with the top of the eighth inning, and after two quick outs, a Mariners player doubled down the left-field line. The next batter then laced a hard single through the left-side, but the wet grass slowed the ball down enough to not allow the Crusaders a play at home plate. That would be the game's final run.

Lunardi singled through the right-side after two outs in the bottom of the eighth, followed by an infield single from sophomore pitcher/infielder Justin Portzline (Selinsgrove, Pa./Selinsgrove Area), but a strikeout left both men stranded.

Junior infielder/pitcher Ben Leonard (Johnstown, Pa./Shade) shut the Mariners down in order in the ninth though to give SU another chance, and with one out in the bottom of the inning, Wertman reached on an infield single to bring the tying run to the plate. The next two batters flied and struck out though, respectively, to end the game.

SU left 17 runners on base to the USMMA's nine. The Crusaders outhit the Mariners, 14-11.

Lunardi added a stolen base, a run and a game-high three walks in this game. Teammate and junior catcher/infielder Chris Price (Coral Springs, Fla./Coral Glades) batted 2-for-4 with two walks, a steal, a run and run batted in. Wertman and Tuomisto both batted 2-for-5 with a walk. Wertman scored twice, and Tuomisto scored once.

Portzline went 2-for-6 with two RBI. Senior infielders Barry Fetter (Middletown, Pa./Middletown Area) and Kurt Yannelli (Phoenixville, Pa./Bishop Shanahan) both went 1-for-3 and scored once. Fetter also walked twice and had one RBI. Kirkland and senior outfielder Tyler Reichard (Danville, Pa./Danville Area) both finished 1-for-6. Reichard scored a run.

Leonard pitched a perfect 1 1/3 innings.

Senior Jason D'Amico (Red Bank, N.J./Rumson-Fair Haven) started the game and suffered the pitching loss, allowing six hits, three walks and six earned runs in 2 1/3 innings. Junior pitcher/infielder Jeff Kirch (Morristown, N.J./Morristown) relieved D'Amico and allowed just one run over an effective 3 2/3 innings. Kirch struck out a team-high four batters before being relieved by freshman Jordan Thomas (Westminster, Md./Westminster), who surrendered one run in 1 2/3 innings while striking out two hitters.