MERION STATION, Pa. – The Saint Joseph's baseball team kicked off its final series of the season as the Hawks fell to Massachusetts, 7-1, on a rainy Thursday afternoon at Smithson Field.

Massachusetts (15-27 overall, 6-16 Atlantic 10) took the lead right out of the gates as Eddy Hart singled and came in to score on a single by Logan Greene.

The Minutemen extended the lead in the second, rapping out five more singles and scoring four runs to make it a 5-0 game.

Langston Livingston got Saint Joseph's (19-27 overall, 5-15 Atlantic 10) on the board in the bottom of the fourth with a solo home run, his third of the season.

Unfortunately for the Crimson and Gray, that would be all, as Hart hit a two-out, two-run single in the top of the six to set the final margin.

Justin Lasko went the distance for UMass, allowing one run on three hits while striking out 10 and not issuing a walk, to improve to 5-4 on the season.  Matt Kennedy took the loss for SJU after being charged with seven runs on seven hits while striking out seven in five and a third innings.

The Hawks and Minutemen are scheduled to play the second of the three-game series on Friday afternoon at 1:00 p.m.  Senior Day festivities are planned as well; however, the storms moving through the Philadelphia region may cause alterations to the schedule.  Updates will be available on SJUHawks.com and the Hawks' social media channels when and if they occur.