PHILADELPHIA – Mike Muha notched four hits on the day, including the 100th of his collegiate career, and drove in three runs as the Saint Joseph's baseball team pounded out 17 hits en route to a 12-2 win at La Salle on Saturday afternoon. Jordan Carter threw eight strong innings on the mound, while six Hawks had multi-hit games.
Saint Joseph's (25-10 overall, 12-4 Atlantic 10) got on the board early with a three-run top half of the first. Brian O'Keefe started things off with a one-out single and advanced to second on a groundout. Tommy Cunningham then followed with a double to plate the game's first run.
Muha doubled the lead, singling home Cunningham for a 2-0 lead. After a walk and a fielder's choice loaded the bases, Taylor Boyd ripped a single through the left side to score Muha and give the Hawks a 3-0 advantage.
With runners at second and third and one out in the second, Cunningham lined a sacrifice fly to left to score O'Keefe. Muha followed with a single to center to score Collin Forgey and extend the lead to 5-0.
La Salle (11-27 overall, 6-9 Atlantic 10) got on the board in the bottom of the second on a solo home run by Cameron Johnson.
The Hawks got the run back in the third on an RBI groundout by Boyd to push the lead back to five. SJU then blew the game open in the fourth, hanging a four-spot on the board. Forgey led off the frame with a single, then stole second and went to third on a wild pitch. Cunningham then drew a walk before Muha doubled home Forgey and gave the Hawks a 7-1 lead.
A wild pitch scored Cunningham and advanced Muha to third; he would then score on a sacrifice fly by Kevin Kratochwill. Later in the inning, Stefan Kancylarz scored on a wild pitch to make it a 10-1 game.
The Explorers strung together three straight hits to score a run in the bottom of the fourth, but Carter settled in and avoided further trouble.
SJU added two more in the eighth as Chris Hueth doubled home Kancylarz and Boyd to close out the scoring.
Carter improved to 7-3, allowing two runs and scattering eight hits while striking out five in eight innings. Joey Ravert took the loss for La Salle, allowing five runs on six hits in two innings, to fall to 1-3.
The teams will play the finale of the series on Sunday afternoon. First pitch is set for noon at Hank DeVincent Field.
