MERION STATION, Pa. – Fresh off of clinching a berth in the Liberty Bell Classic championship game on Wednesday, the Saint Joseph's baseball team steps out of Atlantic 10 play this weekend, traveling to Rutgers for a pair of games before hosting the Scarlet Knights in the series finale.
First pitch in the series opener is set for 3:00 p.m. Friday at Rutgers' Bainton Field in Piscataway, New Jersey. The teams are set for a 2:00 p.m. start on Saturday in Piscataway before wrapping up the series at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday at Smithson Field.
Saint Joseph's (13-12) earned its third Liberty Bell Classic championship game appearance in the last five seasons with an 8-0 shutout of Villanova on Wednesday. A five-run first inning, highlighted by Deon Stafford, Jr.'s league-leading 10th home run, and a stellar outing by Pat Vanderslice combined to push the Hawks into the title game for the fifth time in program history.
Stafford leads the Hawks and the Atlantic 10 in home runs (10), batting average (.418), slugging percentage (.806), and on-base percentage (.508). He has also taken over the team lead in runs batted in (24), while ranking second behind Marc Giacalone in walks (18 and 20, respectively). On Monday, Stafford received his fourth Philadelphia Big 5 Baseball Player of the Week honor of the season, sharing the award with Penn's Gary Tesch.
Also earning Big 5 accolades this week was freshman Tim Brennan, who was named both the Big 5 Pitcher of the Week and the Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Week for the second time. Brennan tossed eight dominant innings, allowing one run on six hits while striking out 10 and walking none as the Hawks routed Davidson, 10-1.
Brennan leads the team in wins at 3-0 on the season and has posted a 2.83 earned run average, ranking in the top 10 in the league among qualified starters. Opponents are hitting just .216 against him, good for fifth in the conference.
Fellow freshman Lucas Rollins has impressed in his five starts as well, striking out 38 against just four walks in 34.1 innings. Tim Ponto has made a pair of strong starts in conference play, allowing three earned runs and 10 hits while fanning 12 in 11 innings.
Rutgers (12-16) comes into the weekend on the back of a midweek shutout of its own as the Scarlet Knights topped Fordham, 5-0, on Wednesday. A three-run first was all the Rutgers pitching staff would need as three hurlers held the Rams to just five hits on the afternoon.
The Rutgers offense is led by R.J. Devish, who leads the squad with a .391 batting average, a .533 on-base percentage, and 27 runs scored in 27 games. Tom Marcinczyk is RU's resident slugger, leading the team with four home runs, 24 RBI, and a .485 slugging percentage.
The Scarlet Knights are not afraid to run, having stolen 57 bases already this season out of 64 attempts. Devish is 12-of-13 on the year, while Jawuan Harris has converted 21-of-23 attempts.
Southpaw Howie Brey leads the Rutgers rotation with a 3.17 ERA on the season and 41 strikeouts against just eight walks. In the bullpen, Max Herrmann leads the Scarlet Knights in appearances (11) and saves (three) with a 2.13 ERA in 12.2 innings of work.
After this weekend's series, Rutgers will play a home-and-home with Seton Hall before traveling to Ohio State to resume Big Ten play. Saint Joseph's, meanwhile, begins a nine-game road stretch at Villanova and Monmouth before a three-game Atlantic 10 series at Massachusetts.
Probable Starters
Friday, 3:00 p.m.: RHP Tim Ponto (1-2, 2.57 ERA) vs. LHP Howie Brey (2-3, 3.17 ERA)
Saturday, 2:00 p.m.: LHP Lucas Rollins (0-2, 3.67 ERA) vs. RHP Kyle Driscoll (2-3, 4.08 ERA)
Sunday, 1:00 p.m.: RHP Tim Brennan (3-0, 2.83 ERA) vs. RHP John O'Reilly (0-2, 5.66 ERA)
