PLYMOUTH TOWNSHIP, Pa. – Eight of nine starters recorded at least one hit for the Saint Joseph's baseball team as the Hawks held on for a 9-8 win over Villanova at Villanova Ballpark on Tuesday afternoon. The Hawks pounded out 16 hits in the game, matching their season high.
Saint Joseph's (13-19) took an early lead in the third, as John Brue ripped a two-out double and Deon Stafford followed with a two-bagger of his own to put the Hawks ahead, 1-0.
Villanova (15-20) answered in the bottom half of the inning as Max Beermann and Kevin Jewitt hit consecutive two-out singles to give the Wildcats a 3-1 lead.
The Hawks responded with a trio of two-out runs of their own to re-take the lead in the top of the fourth. Matt Maul went the opposite way for a triple down the right field line to score Ryan Pater and Nick Fuhrmann to tie the game before Taylor Boyd singled to left to plate Maul and put SJU back on top, 4-3.
The Hawk offense exploded for four runs in the top of the fifth to open up a five-run cushion. Stafford led off with a single before Stefna Kancylarz walked and Charlie Coghlin singled to load the bases with nobody out. Brian Lau followed with a two-run single to up the lead to 6-3 before Pater singled two batters later to score Coghlin and make it a 7-3 game. Maul then hit into a fielder's choice to plate Lau to extend the lead to five.
Villanova bounced back with two runs in the bottom of the inning on four hits and a passed ball. The Wildcats then put runners on the corners with one out, but Tim McCarthy came on in relief and induced a double play grounder out of Brady Acton to limit the damage.
SJU got one back in the sixth after Kancylarz doubled, stole third, and scored on an error, but the Wildcats cut the margin down to two in the bottom of the inning on a triple by Adam Goss and a wild pitch.
The hosts clawed back to within one in the eighth as Todd Czinege walked and scored on a double by Beermann, cutting the Hawk advantage to 9-8.
The Wildcats had one last crack in the ninth as Goss was hit by a pitch with two out to bring up the winning run. Eric Lowe followed with a single to left, but the throw from Peter Sitaras was in time to retire Goss at third and end the ballgame.
Matt Haskins was credited with the win after tossing an inning and two-thirds of hitless relief. Lansing Veeder pitched the ninth for his fourth save of the season. Trevino Rodriguez took the loss for Villanova, allowing six runs on five hits in one inning of relief.
The Hawks return to the diamond at Delaware on Wednesday. First pitch is set for 3:00 p.m.
