4/6/25
 
HACKETTSTOWN, NJ – Lackawanna College blew a seven-run lead, as Sussex County CC scored nine runs over the final five innings to knock off the Falcons, 9-8, in Region XIX Division II action on an overcast Sunday afternoon in New Jersey.
 
The Falcons (19-12, 8-1) built a seven-run edge behind two runs in the first inning and an explosive fourth, highlighted by a two-run home run for John Hughes (Hamilton, NJ), his team-high seventh of the year. Lackawanna had seven runs on eight hits through the first four innings without any strikeouts against the Sussex starter Ryan Miller, but reliever Aiden Mass came on in the fifth inning and shut the Flacons down, pitching five innings of one-hit ball, striking out six and only giving up a seventh-inning sac fly.
 
While the Falcons struggled to add to their lead, the pitching began to falter as the game got to the later innings. Lackawanna starter Liam O'Leary (Souderton, PA) was excellent through the first five innings, giving up just one run and striking out ten, but the Skylanders (13-13, 2-7) finally started breaking through in the bottom of the sixth, plating three runs, all charged to O'Leary, on two hits, a walk, a wild pitch, and a hit batter. George Creighton (Somers, NY) came on in relief and got the two outs the Falcons needed, but there was some distinct momentum with the home side heading into the final three innings.
 
With runners on the corners and one away, Jason Prudente (Bear Creek Twp., PA) hit a sac fly to center to push the Lackawanna advantage to 8-4, but the Falcons were caught stealing to end the top of the seventh.
 
Landon Brandt (Wapakoneta, OH) stranded a pair of runners in the bottom half, but the Falcons were held scoreless in the top of the eighth. Still leading 8-4, Lackawanna brought Hayden Klyver (Wilton, CT) on to pitch. Klyver gave up a double, but sandwiched it with a pair of strikeouts to put two away. Sussex drew a walk to put two on, then a wild pitch put runners at the corners. A single scored one run, then a double scored a pair, cutting the Lackawanna lead to just one run at 8-7. Klyver bounced back for a strikeout looking to end the inning, but the Falcons were hanging on for dear life.
 
A two-out baserunner was stranded on a swinging strikeout, and Josiah Williams (Emmaus, PA) entered the game to close things out. A leadoff single put the tying run on, but Williams got a swinging strikeout to get his first out. The lineup turned over, and a walk put the game-winning run on base with one out. Williams was lifted for Julian Montez (Westfield, NJ). Montez gave up a single to load the bases, then hit a batter to tie the game. Still with one out, a wild pitch let the game-winning run cross the plate and handed Sussex the victory.
 
Hughes finished 2-for-2 with three runs, two walks, and two RBIs. Brooks Henderson IV (Feasterville, PA) was 2-for-4 with an RBI, while Prudente finished 1-for-3 with two RBIs. Louis Kegerreis (Murrysville, PA) had a run scored and two RBIs, while Jake Kelleher (Exeter, PA) had a run and an RBI. Williams was hit with the loss, responsible for two runs on one hit and a walk in one-third of an inning.
 
The loss to Sussex is the second time in two years that the Skylanders have avoided a season-sweep against Lackawanna with a walk-off victory. It also hands the Falcons their first loss in Region XIX DII play. Undefeated Mercer (9-0) now sits alone atop the region standings. The Falcons have one day of rest before getting back to action with a single nine-inning contest on Tuesday, April 8^th, as they travel to Sewell, NJ to take on the NJCAA Division III #1 team in the nation, the RCSJ Gloucester Roadrunners. Lackawanna fell to Gloucester earlier this season, 20-18, at home on March 18^th. First pitch of Tuesday's game is scheduled for 3:00pm ET at the RCSJ Gloucester baseball field.