MERION STATION, Pa. – The Saint Joseph's baseball team suffered a tough loss on Friday, falling to Rhode Island, 4-2, in the first of three games between the teams at Smithson Field this weekend. Marc Giacalone led the Hawk offense with three hits on the day.
Saint Joseph's (21-16 overall, 8-5 Atlantic 10) grabbed an early lead as Charlie Concannon hit a one-out double down the right field line and came in to score two batters later on a single by Cal Jadacki.
The Hawks had an opportunity to tack on in the third, as Tyler Wilson walked the bases loaded, but Wilson fanned Concannon to escape the jam.
Tim Ponto kept the Rams off balance all afternoon, needing just five pitches to get through the second and eight to get through the sixth, but Rhode Island (18-20 overall, 9-4 Atlantic 10) needed just one big inning to take the lead. Ponto allowed a one-out single to Chase Livingston to start the seventh before making way for Nick Roth, who hit Connor Foreman and then walked Mike Foley to load the bases. Justin Aungst came on to face Chris Hess, but Hess took an 0-1 pitch over the fence in left for a grand slam and a 4-1 Ram lead.
SJU got one back in the bottom half as three consecutive singles loaded the bases with nobody out. Deon Stafford, Jr., hit a ground ball up the middle that got past shortstop Laurence Hill, but kicked up to Hess, the second baseman, who caught Taylor Boyd just off of third base for the first out. Matt Maul scored on the play to cut the deficit to two, but a fielder's choice and a strikeout ended the threat.
In the ninth, Giacalone and John Brue singled to bring the winning run to the plate, but Tyler Barss struck out the side to notch his seventh save of the season.
Barss preserved the win for Wilson, who improved to 8-1. He allowed one run on four hits and three walks while striking out six in six innings, his shortest outing since March 12. Roth was charged with the loss to fall to 2-1.
Ponto took a hard-luck no-decision on Friday as he was charged with just one run on five hits. He struck out two and did not issue a walk in six and a third innings of work.
The teams will wrap up the series with a doubleheader on Saturday. First pitch in the opener is set for noon at Smithson Field.
