March 10, 2013

Box Score

MERION STATION, Pa. - A 10-run seventh inning blew a one-run game wide open as the Saint Joseph's baseball team beat Iona, 14-3, at Smithson Field on Sunday afternoon. Brian O'Keefe went 4-for-5 with four runs batted in, while John Brue drove in four as well. Mike Muha had three hits and scored four runs in the win, SJU's third straight.

It was Iona (2-11), however, that opened the scoring in the top of the first. Matt Kriss hit a one-out double and came around to score on a single by Matt Hratko to give the Gaels a 1-0 lead.

Saint Joseph's (5-10) answered right away, going in front with a pair in the bottom half of the first. Kevin Kratochwill led off with a single and scored on a ground-rule double by O'Keefe before Brue drew a bases-loaded walk to bring home Muha, who had singled earlier in the inning.

The Gaels went back in front with two runs in the third on singles by Jimmy Guiliano and Hratko.

The Hawks tied the game in the fourth as back-to-back doubles by Chris Hueth and Brue kicked off the inning. SJU then took the lead in the fifth when Muha led off the frame with a double and came in to score two batters later on a double play grounder to make it a 4-3 game.

The first nine Hawks to come to the plate in the bottom of the seventh inning reached base as SJU sent 15 hitters to the dish in a 10-run inning. Kratochwill led off with a single and went to third on a double by Kancylarz. After Muha was hit by a pitch to load the bases, O'Keefe, Greg Kumpel, and Hueth followed with consecutive singles to extend the lead to 7-3.

Brue followed with a ground rule double to score O'Keefe and Kumpel and push the margin to six. Anthony Cirillo was then hit by a pitch to re-load the bases for Quinn Renner, who singled home Hueth with the sixth run of the inning.

Kratochwill then hit into a double play that scored Brue before Kancylarz ripped his second double of the inning to score Cirillo. O'Keefe finished off the monster inning with a double to left center to plate Muha and Kancylarz.

Matt Haskins pitched the final two innings for Saint Joseph's, retiring all six hitters he faced to help preserve the win for Daniel Thorpe. Thorpe improved to 1-2 on the year, allowing three runs on six hits and striking out six in six innings. Muha allowed two hits in a scoreless inning as well.

Steve Basile (0-1) took the loss for Iona, allowing four runs on seven hits while striking out five in four-plus innings.

The Hawks pounded out 19 hits in the game, while eight different players scored runs. All nine starters reached base for Saint Joseph's.

SJU returns to Smithson Field on Tuesday for a matchup with Villanova. First pitch is set for 3:00 p.m. Live stats and streaming audio will be available at SJUHawks.com.