MERION STATION, Pa. – Behind a strong performance on the mound from
Ian McCole in the nine-inning opener and a walk-off home run by
Nate Thomas in the seven-inning nightcap, the Saint Joseph's baseball team came away with a doubleheader sweep over UMass as the teams opened conference play at Smithson Field on Friday afternoon.
GAME 1: Saint Joseph's 5, UMass 1
HOW IT HAPPENED
• UMass (7-15 overall, 0-2 Atlantic 10) took the lead in the top of the first on a home run by Dylan Judd.
• An RBI single by
Liam Bendo in the bottom of the second tied the game, where it remained until the fifth, when
Brett Callahan's two-out single put the Hawks ahead, 2-1.
• Saint Joseph's (7-6 overall, 2-0 Atlantic 10) added insurance runs in the sixth on an RBI single by
Brendan Hueth and a two-run error that plated Hueth and
Luca Trigiani.
• McCole allowed just one baserunner over the final four innings – a batter that reached on an error and was erased on a double play – to finish off the complete game and give the Hawks the win.
BEHIND THE BOX SCORE
• McCole was outstanding on Friday, facing just three batters over the minimum. He allowed one run on four hits, striking out eight against a single walk. He improved to 1-1 on the year. Jack Steele took the loss for UMass, allowing five runs – two of them earned – on seven hits and three walks in five and two-thirds innings to fall to 2-4.
• The complete game effort is the first for a Hawk since Tim Brennan went the distance against George Mason on May 12, 2018. That came just six days after Justin Aungst did the same against NJIT.
• Bendo and Hueth led the Hawks with a pair of hits apiece, while Judd notched two for the Minutemen.
GAME 2: Saint Joseph's 7, UMass 5
HOW IT HAPPENED
• This time it was the Hawks that took the early lead as
Brandon Drapeau singled home Callahan in the bottom of the first.
• UMass tied things up in the top of the third, but in the bottom of the frame, a delayed double steal saw Callahan swipe home to put the Hawks back on top. Bendo then followed with a two-run single to make it a 4-1 game.
• The Minutemen would get back into the game in the sixth a single and a fielder's choice. In the seventh, the visitors tied the game on a squeeze play and then went ahead after an errant throw by Thomas allowed the go-ahead run to score.
• Embodying that "The Hawk Will Never Die" spirit, SJU went right to work on making up the deficit in the bottom of the inning, as Callahan was hit by a pitch to start the inning before
Andrew Cossetti drew a walk to put the tying run in scoring position.
• Up to the plate strode Thomas, who found redemption when he took Tucker Wittman deep down the right field line to send the Hawks home with the doubleheader sweep.
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BEHIND THE BOX SCORE
•
Alec Rodriguez got the final two outs in the top of the seventh and was credited with the win to improve to 1-1. Wittman took the loss to fall to 0-1 after facing three batters and not retiring any of them.
•
Luke Zimmerman got the start for the Hawks and pitched into the sixth; he was ultimately charged with three runs on four hits while striking out five. Daniel Livnat started for UMass and allowed four runs on eight hits over six innings.
• Thomas went 3-for-4 in the second game with three runs batted in and two runs scored. The home run was his team-leading fourth of the season.
UP NEXT
The Hawks and Minutemen will wrap up the series with another doubleheader at Smithson Field on Saturday. The opener, scheduled for seven innings, is set for noon, with a nine-inning game to follow.
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