Feb. 15, 2013

Box Score

DELAND, Fla. - The Saint Joseph's baseball team is 1-0 for the first time in 14 years as the Hawks topped Stetson, 5-2, at Melching Field on Friday night in the season opener for both squads. Junior Chris Hueth had three hits, senior Anthony Cirillo scored two runs, and sophomore Stefan Kancylarz hit his first career home run in the win.

Saint Joseph's (1-0) opened the scoring in the top of the second as Hueth led off with a single and came around to score on an error before Collin Forgey brought home Cirillo with a sacrifice fly to double the lead.

Brian O'Keefe extended the advantage to 3-0 in the fourth, drawing a two-out, bases-loaded walk to plate Cirillo, who had led off the inning with a single.

Stetson (0-1) got two back in the fifth as Mike Fernland doubled to right off of Hawk starter Kyle Mullen.

The Hatters threatened in the bottom of the seventh as Garrett Russini hit a one-out double off of Mike Muha, but Steven Schuler came on and fanned Fernland and Kevin Fagan to end the inning.

The Hawks extended the lead in the ninth as O'Keefe singled with one out before Kancylarz deposited the ball over the fence in right field to make it a 5-2 game.

Jimmy Yacabonis took over and tossed a perfect ninth, with two strikeouts, for his first career save.

Mullen went five innings, allowing two runs on four hits while striking out four, to earn the win. Muha, Schuler, and Yacabonis combined to allow just three baserunners over the final four innings to seal the win.

It was the first win for Saint Joseph's in a season opener since the Hawks topped Maryland Eastern Shore, also by a 5-2 score, on February 20, 1999.

The teams will continue the weekend set at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday.