SELINSGROVE, Pa. – The Albright Lions baseball team let two leads slip away as they suffered a 9-7 loss in a back and forth contest to Susquehanna in non-conference action on Wednesday afternoon.
 
With the loss, the Lions overall record drops to 11-18 overall as they have four games remaining in the regular season. Meanwhile, the River Hawks of the Landmark Conference improve to 13-19 overall.
 
The Lions got off to a fast start in the top of the first as they scored three runs on four straight singles with two outs. Junior Jeff Yordy and sophomore Logan Adams started the threat with the first two singles before junior Joe Suppa brought home Yordy with the third single. A throwing error on the single moved the runners up a base, and junior Jesse Fikslin took advantage by making it 3-0 on a two-run single. However, the lead was short-lived as the River Hawks tied the game at three after sending all nine batters to the plate. Susquehanna scored all three runs in the inning before an out was recorded. Following a scoreless second inning from both squads, the River Hawks took their first lead of the game at 6-3 on a three-run home run with one out. The Lions then began to mount a comeback as they got a two-run single from junior Austin Roth. A walk and hit by pitch set the first two runners on base to lead off the inning for the Lions before senior Tyler Keller singled to load the bases. Roth drove them in, but the Lions could score no further as they stranded runners on first and second with three straight outs. Albright took the lead back from Susquehanna in the top of the fifth with a pair of runs to make it 7-6. Adams led the inning off with a double, advanced to third on a balk, and then scored on a wild pitch. Suppa followed by drawing a walk and stealing a base before Keller brought him home on a two-out double.
 
Susquehanna quickly grabbed momentum by scoring its final three runs in the bottom of the fifth to grab the lead back for good at 9-7 behind four hits. All three River Hawk runs in the inning came on RBI singles with two outs. The Lions were retired in order for the next two innings before trying to make one last charge in the top of the eighth inning. Keller and sophomore Logan Pennypacker singled before advancing to second and third with two outs following a passed ball. Unfortunately for the Lions, a groundout to the pitcher ended the threat, and they would be retired in order to end the game in the top of the ninth.
 
Keller led the Lions by going 3-of-4 from the plate with one RBI, while Adams went 2-of-5 with two runs scored. Freshman starting pitcher Kyle Smith suffered the loss after allowing eight earned runs on eight hits, while striking out four and walking three. Freshman Ryan Kalinich relieved Smith and allowed one earned run on two hits in 1.1 innings of work, while junior Daron Pijanowski and Adams each threw scoreless innings of relief. River Hawk pitcher Tyson Thrush earned the win after pitching in the fifth inning and allowed one hit and struck out two batters. Susquehanna also posted six stolen bases in the contest.
 
Albright will return to action on Friday, April 27^th when it hosts Messiah in the final home game of the season for Senior Day at 3:30 p.m.