NORTH PORT, Fla. – The Saint Joseph's baseball team fell to Iowa, 7-2, at CoolToday Park on Saturday afternoon. Playing in the annual Snowbird Classic baseball extravaganza, the Hawks and Hawkeyes played at the new spring training home of Major League Baseball's Atlanta Braves.
HOW IT HAPPENED
• Iowa (2-0) grabbed the early lead, scoring three times in the top half of the first inning, and then created some separation with two more in the fifth.
• Saint Joseph's (1-2) got both of those runs back in the bottom of the frame.
James McConnon drew a one-out walk and then came around to score on a double by
Liam Bendo;
Tim Johnson followed with a double of his own to plate Bendo and cut the deficit to 5-2.
• Unfortunately for the Crimson and Gray, a two-run single by Ben Norman in the top of the eighth restored the five-run margin and closed out the scoring for the day.
BEHIND THE BOX SCORE
•
Hayden Seig got the start on the mound for SJU and took the loss after allowing three runs on six hits in four innings. He struck out six and did not walk a batter.
• Grant Judkins allowed two runs on three hits in five innings to earn the win for the Hawkeyes.
• McConnon continued his solid opening weekend, going 2-for-2 with a run scored.
HAWK TALK
"I told the boys after the game that we just have to have more resolve," head coach
Fritz Hamburg said. "We had a long day yesterday and today was a two-way challenge – how we respond from yesterday and how we respond against a solid Iowa ball club – and we didn't win either of those battles. We've done some good things the last two days, but we have a lot to build on. I have a great deal of belief in this group and I know the staff is excited for tomorrow."
UP NEXT
After playing 23 innings on Friday and another game on Saturday, the Hawks will conclude their opening weekend with an early matchup against Kent State. First pitch is set for 10:00 a.m.
