AMHERST, Mass. – Jordan DiValerio and Cole Stetzar combined for a four-hit shutout on Thursday as the Saint Joseph's baseball team kept its postseason hopes alive with a 2-0 win over Massachusetts at Earl Lorden Field.

DiValerio allowed just three hits and a walk to go with four strikeouts over eight shutout innings while Stetzar allowed a hit and a walk in a scoreless ninth.

After both sides went down in order in the first, Saint Joseph's (19-28 overall, 11-11 Atlantic 10) went ahead in the second inning when Nate Thomas led off the frame with his fifth home run of the season and second in as many games.

DiValerio faced the minimum over the first five innings, but Justin Lasko was equal to the task for the Minutemen, keeping the Hawks at bay until the seventh.  Dominic Cuoci led off with a single and went to third on a single by Jake Artz.  Liam Bendo followed with a sacrifice fly to score Cuoci and double the SJU advantage.

Massachusetts (18-25 overall, 8-12 Atlantic 10) got the winning run to the plate with one out in the ninth, but Stetzar induced a fielder's choice from Nolan Kessinger before striking out Anthony Videtto to end the game.

With the win, DiValerio improved to 5-5 on the year, while Stetzar notched his third save.  Lasko was the hard-luck loser, falling to 3-7 after allowing two runs on seven hits in eight innings.

The teams will meet again on Friday afternoon; first pitch is set for 1:00 p.m.