CONWAY, S.C. – Four runs in the first three innings proved to be enough as the Saint Joseph's baseball team held off Coastal Carolina, 4-2, in their first game at the Brittain Resorts Invitational on a frigid Friday afternoon at Springs Brooks Stadium.  Jordan DiValerio tossed six strong innings, while Nate Thomas hit his first home run of the season to help power the Hawks to victory.

HOW IT HAPPENED
• Saint Joseph's (2-3) never trailed, taking a 1-0 lead in the top of the second after Liam Bendo scored on a passed ball.

• The Hawks extended the lead in the third as Jake Artz led off with a double and came in to score on a single by Brendan Hueth.  Thomas then followed, taking Zach McCambley deep to right to double the SJU lead to 4-0.

• Coastal Carolina (2-2) would get two back in the bottom of the fifth as BT Riopelle led off with a solo home run and Makenzie Pate scored on a sacrifice fly by Alex Gattinelli.

• The Chanticleers would threaten again in the ninth, putting runners on the corners with two outs, but Cole Stetzar retired Scott McKeon to end the ballgame and secure the win.

BEHIND THE BOX SCORE
• DiValerio improved to 2-0 on the young season, allowing two runs on four hits while striking out seven in six innings.  McCambley took the loss, falling to 1-1 after giving up four runs, three of them earned, on seven hits while fanning 10 across six innings of his own.  Stetzar's save is his first of the season.

• After allowing a double and a walk in the first inning, DiValerio retired nine consecutive hitters as the Hawks built their lead.  Luke Zimmerman came on in relief and retired all six hitters he faced in two perfect innings.

• Bendo, Hueth, and James McConnon all had multi-hit games on the day, while McKeon was the only Chanticleer with two hits.

UP NEXT
Saint Joseph's will take on West Virginia on Saturday at TicketReturn.com Field in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.  First pitch is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.