March 9, 2013

Saint Joseph's 9, Central Connecticut State 4 (Box Score)
Saint Joseph's 2, Central Connecticut State 1 (Box Score)

MERION STATION, Pa. - A pair of outstanding starting pitching performances, combined with some timely hitting, powered the Saint Joseph's baseball team to a doubleheader sweep over Central Connecticut State at Smithson Field on Saturday afternoon.

In the first game, Kyle Mullen struck out nine Blue Devils and the Hawk offense exploded for eight runs in the fifth inning en route to a 9-4 win in SJU's home opener.

Central Connecticut (3-3) nearly drew first blood in the second inning, loading the bases with two out, but Mullen induced a popup from J.P. Sportman to end the threat. The Blue Devils then put runners on first and second with two out in the third, but Mullen retired the next nine hitters to keep CCSU off the scoreboard through five.

It was the bottom of the fifth when Saint Joseph's (4-10) erupted, taking an 8-0 lead. With one out, Anthony Cirillo doubled to left center before Kevin Kratochwill followed with an RBI single to get the Hawks on the board. Quinn Renner was next, ripping a triple to the gap in left to double the lead before coming in to score on a double by Stefan Kancylarz to make it a 3-0 game.

Mike Muha reached on a fielding error and advanced on a wild pitch, leaving runners on second and third with one out. Brian O'Keefe followed with a single to plate Kancylarz and chase CCSU starter Jack Greenhouse from the game.

Chris Hueth then greeted Todd Savatsky with an RBI single of his own before Greg Kumpel doubled to extend the margin to six. John Brue reached via an error that allowed Hueth to score before Cirillo's sacrifice fly drove in Kumpel with the last run of the inning.

The Blue Devils answered in the top of the sixth, cracking the scoreboard on an RBI groundout by Dominic Severino and a single by Mike Washburn. CCSU added a run in the seventh as well, scoring on an infield single by Tyler McIntyre.

The Hawks tacked on one more in the bottom half, as Kumpel hit a two-out double and scored on a single by Brue.

Sportman's RBI single in the eighth plated the final run of the game for the Blue Devils.

Mullen tossed six innings, allowing two runs on seven hits while fanning nine to improve to 2-2. Greenhouse fell to 1-1 after being charged with six runs, five earned, on eight hits in four and a third innings.

Kancylarz finished the game 3-for-4 while Kumpel had a pair of doubles, two runs scored, and two runs batted in.

In the nightcap, Jordan Carter pitched into the seventh inning and Eddie Palmer hit a two-out infield single in the bottom of the sixth to lead the Hawks to a 2-1 victory and the doubleheader sweep.

Carter retired 13 of the first 14 batters of the game, but ran into trouble in the fifth as Central Connecticut State put runners on second and third with two down. However, Carter sent Connor Fitzsimmons down on a called third strike to end the threat.

The Blue Devils pushed a run across in the top of the sixth as Dylan DelaCruz singled, stole second, and came in to score on a single by McIntyre with two outs.

The Hawks answered right back, however, as Muha led off with a single and went to second on a wild pitch. Two batters later, Kumpel followed with his second double of the game and fourth of the afternoon to score Muha and tie the score. After Kumpel advanced to third on a fly ball to right, Palmer hit a tough chopper towards third; pitcher Cody Brown fielded the ball but could not get enough on the throw to retire Palmer. That allowed Kumpel to score what proved to be the winning run, putting the Hawks on top, 2-1.

CCSU threatened in the ninth as McIntyre doubled with one out, but Jimmy Yacabonis retired the side on a strikeout and a fly ball to secure the victory.

Carter scattered five hits in six and a third innings, allowing just the one run while striking out three to improve to 1-1. Steven Schuler fanned two and did not allow a baserunner in an inning and two-thirds, while Yacabonis notched a strikeout in the ninth for his third save.

Brown took the loss for CCSU, falling to 1-1.

The Hawks will return to Smithson Field on Sunday for a contest with Iona. First pitch is set for noon. Live stats and audio will be available at SJUHawks.com.