Susquehanna Baseball

(18-21, 11-7 Landmark Conference)

Crusader rally falls short Box Score

HUNTINGDON, Pa. - A bottom-of-the-ninth, two-run homer by John Lunardi (West Chester, Pa./Henderson) sounded like the beginning of a storybook rally, but Susquehanna University could not surpass the University of Scranton and fell, 9-5, in an elimination game of the 2008 Landmark Conference Baseball Tournament. The Crusaders complete their season with an 18-21 record.

Scranton posted eight runs over the first three innings, then Susquehanna got on the scoreboard in the fourth, when Kyle Wertman (Havertown, Pa./Haverford) reached on a hit-by-pitch, and later scored on Ben Leonard's (Johnstown, Pa./Shade) single to right field.

Two more Crusader runs crossed in the fifth, with Chris Price (Coral Springs, Fla./Coral Glades) plating one run on his RBI single to center field, and Barry Fetter (Middletown, Pa./Middletown) scoring from third on a double-steal of second and home.

The Royals got a solo home run to left field in the eighth to widen the lead to 9-3. Lunardi answered for the Crusaders in the bottom of the ninth with a two-run shot over the left field fence, but the rally fell short.

Crusader starter Jason D'Amico (Red Bank, N.J./Rumson Fair Haven) allowed six runs, five earned, on four hits and five walks in his 2 1/3 innings on the mound, and was charged with the loss. Kevin Riordan (Morristown, N.J./Delbarton School) went six innings in relief, giving up one earned run and striking out five Royals.