MERION STATION, Pa. – A wild pitch in the bottom of the ninth led the Saint Joseph's baseball team past La Salle, 3-2, on Thursday afternoon in the opener of a critical four-game series between the teams at Smithson Field.
HOW IT HAPPENED
• La Salle (32-18 overall, 15-6 Atlantic 10) took the lead in the top of the first with three consecutive singles, but the Hawks manufactured a run of their own after a leadoff single by
Brendan Hueth, a walk to
Liam Bendo, and an RBI single by
Brandon Drapeau.
• The Explorers went back ahead in the fourth, but Saint Joseph's (18-17 overall, 12-9 Atlantic 10) drew level when
Nate Thomas hit a rocket over the fence in right field for his ninth home run of the season.
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• Both teams threatened in the middle and late innings, but neither side could scratch a run across until the ninth.Â
Tim Cavanaugh drew a lead-off walk and was replaced on the base paths by
Adam Fine; Hueth then laid a bunt down the third base line that turned into an infield single and allowed Fine to reach second.
• After a wild pitch by Colin Yablonski advanced the runners,
Luca Trigiani drew a walk to bring up
Andrew Cossetti; during his at bat, Yablonski uncorked his second wild pitch of the inning to plate Fine and end the ballgame.
BEHIND THE BOX SCORE
•
Hayden Seig tossed two shutout innings, striking out three, to earn the win and move to 2-0 on the year. Yablonski took the loss, allowing a run on three hits, two walks, and the two wild pitches, to fall to 2-3.
• Both starters were strong despite not figuring into the decision.Â
Ian McCole allowed two runs on eight hits and a walk while striking out four in seven innings for SJU, while Colin Scanlon allowed two runs on six hits in six and two-thirds innings.
• Hueth, Bendo, and Thomas had a game-high two hits apiece.
UP NEXT
The teams will play a pair of seven-inning games on Friday beginning at noon. The Hawks will honor their graduating seniors in a brief ceremony between games.
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