MERION STATION, Pa. – Pat Vanderslice threw seven one-hit innings and the Hawk bats hung a five-spot on the board in the first as the Saint Joseph's baseball team earned a trip to Citizens Bank Park with an 8-0 win over Villanova in the Liberty Bell Classic semifinals on Wednesday.
Vanderslice has thrown 11 innings over the first two rounds of the tournament and has allowed just one hit and four base runners.
Saint Joseph's (13-12) jumped on Wildcat starter Mike Sgaramella early, sending nine hitters to the plate and scoring five runs in the bottom of the first. Marc Giacalone led off with an infield single before Deon Stafford, Jr., hit his league-leading 10th home run of the season for a quick 2-0 lead.
John Brue and Charlie Concannon walked to bring up Brian Lau, who doubled down the left field line to score a pair and double the lead. Two batters later, Taylor Boyd looped a ball into right field for a double of his own, scoring Lau and making it a 5-0 game.
Sgaramella settled in for Villanova (11-18), retiring 10 of the next 12 batters he faced, but the Hawks would strike again in the fifth. Brue led off with a single, moved to second on a passed ball, and went to third on a groundout by Matt Maul. Concannon followed with a single to right to plate Brue and chase Sgaramella.
SJU put the game out of reach in the eighth. With one away in the inning, Boyd, Sitaras, and Giacalone drew consecutive walks to load the bases for Stafford, who ripped the first pitch through the left side for a two-run single and a four-RBI day.
Vanderslice combined with Jack Stover and Ryan Kelly for the shutout. After tossing four perfect innings at Lafayette in the quarterfinals, Vanderslice sent down the first six Villanova hitters of the game before issuing a walk in the third. He then retired 10 in a row before allowing a single to Eric Lowe with one out in the sixth. The junior finished the day with one hit allowed, a hit batsman, two walks, and seven strikeouts.
The Hawks will meet defending champion Rider in the championship game after the Broncs topped Lehigh, 10-9, in 10 innings on Tuesday. The teams will meet on April 26 at Citizens Bank Park, after previously being scheduled to meet at Smithson Field on the same date.
Saint Joseph's has the weekend off from Atlantic 10 play and will take on Rutgers in a three-game set. The Hawks and Scarlet Knights will meet on Friday and Saturday in New Jersey before wrapping up the series at Smithson Field on Sunday.
