PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. – The Saint Joseph's baseball team battled back from a four-run deficit late, but Michigan State ultimately came away with an 8-7 victory at North Charlotte Regional Park on Saturday afternoon.
Trailing 7-3 in the top of the eighth, Saint Joseph's (5-6) rallied to equalize. Brian Lau was hit by a pitch to start the inning before a Cal Jadacki single put two on for Taylor Boyd, who ripped a double to the gap in left center that scored Lau and cut the deficit to three. Peter Sitaras followed with a double of his own to score both runner and make it a 7-6 game.
After a groundout moved Sitaras to third, a passed ball allowed him to score the tying run with two outs. Unfortunately for the Crimson and Gray, the Spartans would get a leadoff double in the ninth; a bunt single and a wild pitch allowed Kory Young to score the winning run.
The Hawks took an early lead in the top of the first inning as Deon Stafford, Jr., hit a one-out single, advanced on a single by Matt Maul, and came in to score on a single by Charlie Concannon.
Michigan State (12-1) tied the game in the bottom of the inning when Jordan Zimmerman doubled and came in to score on an error.
The Spartans took the lead in the fourth on a solo home run by Matt Byars, but the Hawks leveled the game in the fifth after Sitaras singled and came in on a single by John Brue.
MSU took the lead once again with a four-spot in the sixth. With two outs, Justin Hovis hit an RBI double, Marty Bechina followed with a two-run double, and Brandon Hughes added a double of his own to give the Spartans a 6-2 cushion.
The Hawks pegged one back in the seventh after Maul singled home Marc Giacalone, but Dan Durkin hit a solo shot to right to restore the four-run margin after seven.
Josh Buchalski earned the win for Michigan State, while Ryan Kelly took the loss for Saint Joseph's. Neither starter figured in the decision; Ethan Landon allowed two runs on nine hits in six innings, while Lucas Rollins allowed five runs, four earned, on seven hits in five and two-thirds.
Saint Joseph's will close out its voyage through the Sunshine State with a game against Central Michigan at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday.
