MERION STATION, Pa. – Sacred Heart scored single runs in each of the final three innings to send the Saint Joseph's baseball team down to a 6-5 defeat in its home opener at Smithson Field on Friday afternoon.
With two outs in the top of the 10th inning, Keith Klebart doubled to put the go-ahead run in scoring position. Dan Schock then struck out, but the pitch got away; the throw to first hit Schock in the back, and Klebart was called safe at home to give the Pioneers the lead.
Brent Teller worked around a walk in the bottom of the inning to finish off the game for SHU.
Saint Joseph's (6-7) took the lead in the bottom of the first, as Deon Stafford, Jr., walked, went to third on a single by John Brue, and scored on a fielder's choice by Matt Maul.
The Hawks added to the lead in the fourth as Charlie Concannon hit his first career home run into the bullpens in right field with two outs and a man on to make it a 3-0 SJU lead.
Sacred Heart (4-8) tied the game in the top of the fifth. Schock led off the inning with a double and came in to score on a single by Cody Doyle. Four batters later, Jayson Sullivan doubled home Doyle and Ted Shaw to tie the game at 3-3.
SJU went back ahead in the sixth; after Maul singled and Concannon walked, Cal Jadacki singled to center to give the Hawks a two-run advantage.
The Pioneers used single runs in the eighth and ninth to send the game to extra innings. Zack Short's two-out single in the eighth brought SHU back within one, and Shaw did the same in the ninth to tie it.
Teller allowed two runs on two hits while striking out six in five innings of relief to improve to 1-1. Zach DeVincenzo fell to 0-1, allowing an unearned run on one hit, despite notching a rare four-strikeout inning.
Both starters departed after five innings. James Cooksey allowed three runs on six hits for Sacred Heart, while Pat Vanderslice allowed three runs on eight hits while fanning seven.
The Hawks will look to bounce back on Saturday with a doubleheader against Canisius. First pitch at Smithson Field is scheduled for 11:00 a.m.
