April 2, 2013

Box Score

MERION STATION, Pa. - Chris Hueth went 4-for-4 and Brian O'Keefe hit his third home run in four games, but it wasn't enough as the Saint Joseph's baseball team fell to Lehigh, 10-7, on a cold and windy Tuesday at Smithson Field. Hueth also scored twice and drove in a run, while O'Keefe added three RBI and a run scored.

Saint Joseph's (12-15) opened the scoring in the bottom of the second as Anthony Cirillo beat out an infield single to score Hueth, who had reached on the first of his two triples on the afternoon.

Lehigh (14-12) answered back with three in the third. With one out and runners at first and second, Joe Abeln hit a ground-rule double to score John Elson and leave runners on second and third. Two batters later, Patrick Walshe reached on an error that brought home Abeln and Tyler Brong to make it a 3-1 lead.

The Hawks equalized in the bottom half of the inning as Kevin Kratochwill walked and Stefan Kancylarz reached on catcher's interference; Kratochwill later came in to score on a wild pitch and a passed ball, while Hueth doubled home Kancylarz to tie the game at 3-3.

The Mountain Hawks then posted a five-run fifth and a two-run sixth to open up a 10-3 lead before Hueth led off the sixth with another triple and scored on a sacrifice fly by John Brue to make it a six-run deficit.

SJU cut it to five in the seventh as Kancylarz singled, stole second, and came in to score on a two-out single by O'Keefe to make it a 10-5 game.

Collin Forgey led off the ninth with a pinch-hit single and two batters later, O'Keefe hit his third home run of the season over the visiting bullpen in right to bring the Hawks within three at 10-7. Unfortunately for the Crimson and Gray, Nick Cassell came out of the bullpen to get the final out and lock up the win for the Mountain Hawks with his first save.

Nick Stephens got the win for Lehigh, improving to 1-3, after tossing an inning and a third of hitless relief. Jack Stover fell to 0-4 for Saint Joseph's, allowing seven runs, five earned, and seven hits in four-plus innings.

Lansing Veeder made his first appearance of the season on the mound with one scoreless inning, while Jason Holcomb made his collegiate debut and allowed a walk in one hitless inning.

Saint Joseph's returns to the diamond on Wednesday as the Hawks travel to Bucknell. First pitch against the Bison is set for 3:30 p.m. Live stats from Depew Field will be available at SJUHawks.com.