May 12, 2013

Box Score

ST. LOUIS - Stefan Kancylarz was 3-for-5 with a home run and four runs batted in, and Greg Kumpel added three hits, a home run, and three RBI of his own, but the Saint Joseph's baseball team ultimately fell short on Sunday afternoon, falling to Saint Louis, 11-10, in a wild affair at the Billiken Sports Center.

The teams combined for 21 runs and 32 hits in the game.

Saint Joseph's (26-23 overall, 12-9 Atlantic 10) took a quick lead as Collin Forgey led off the game with a double and Stefan Kancylarz followed with an RBI single. Four batters later, Greg Kumpel singled home Kancylarz to give SJU a 2-0 lead after a half inning.

Saint Louis (33-17 overall, 15-6 Atlantic 10) nosed ahead in the bottom of the second as three straight singles led to a run to cut the Hawk lead in half. Three batters later, Jordan Hammerman hit a two-out, two-run single to give the Billikens a 3-2 lead.

The Hawks answered right away, taking back the lead in the top of the third. Kancylarz led off with a double and Mika Muha followed with a double of his own to tie the game. Brian O'Keefe then singled to put runners on the corners for Chris Hueth, who doubled home Muha to put SJU back in front. Two batters later, Tommy Cunningham hit a sacrifice fly to score O'Keefe and restore the two-run advantage at 5-3.

The Billikens tied the game in the bottom of the inning, scoring runs on a double by Mike Levine and a single by C.J. Rose to knot the game at 5-5.

Kancylarz struck again in the fourth, as Quinn Renner singled to start the frame and Kancylarz launched his fifth home run of the season over the right field wall to give the Hawks a 7-5 lead.

Two singles and an error loaded the bases for SLU in the bottom of the sixth. Alex Kelly then singled in Alec Sole, and another error on the play allowed Michael Bozarth to score the tying run. Mike Vigliarolo then followed with an infield single to score Hammerman and give the Billikens an 8-7 lead.

With two outs and two on in the top half of the seventh, Kumpel hit his second RBI single of the day to plate O'Keefe and tie the game.

The Billikens loaded the bases with nobody out once again the seventh. Bozarth's sacrifice fly brought home Braxton Martinez to give Saint Louis a 9-8 lead before Kelly doubled down the left field line with two outs to extend the advantage to 11-8.

Kancylarz added his fourth RBI of the day in the eighth, grounding out to second to score Renner and cut the deficit to two.

Kumpel homered to left with two down in the top of the ninth, but unfortunately for the Hawks, Matt Eckelman induced a groundout to end the game.

Eckelman earned the win, allowing two runs on four hits in two and a third innings, to improve to 6-0. Jimmy Yacabonis took the loss, allowing three runs on seven hits while striking out five in two and two-thirds innings.

Both starters had tough outings. Daniel Thorpe allowed eight runs, seven earned, on 11 hits in five innings, while SLU's Clay Smith was knocked out early, ceding five runs on seven hits and a walk in just two-plus innings.

The Hawks will wrap up the regular season with a three-game home set against Rhode Island. First pitch in the series opener is set for 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, with games at 1:00 p.m. on Friday and noon on Saturday. Saturday will also be Senior Day, where the Hawks will honor their seven departing seniors in a pre-game ceremony.