MERION STATION, Pa. –
Nate Thomas tied a program record with three home runs in a game as the Saint Joseph's baseball team thumped George Mason, 14-2, at Smithson Field on Sunday afternoon. Thomas hit the mark previously set by Deon Stafford, Jr., on two occasions in 2016.
HOW IT HAPPENED
• Saint Joseph's (16-13 overall, 3-3 Atlantic 10) jumped out to a first-inning lead when
Brendan Hueth ripped a two-run double down the right field line and
Brandon Drapeau followed with an RBI groundout.
• George Mason (10-20 overall, 2-4 Atlantic 10) tallied one in the top of the third, but Thomas got it back with his first home run of the day, a solo shot, to make it 4-1 after three.
• The Patriots scratched a run across in the top of the fourth, but once again it was Thomas who answered, sending a laser over the fence in right for a three-run home run and a 7-2 lead after five.
• The Hawks blew the game open in the sixth. A wild pitch with the bases loaded and Thomas at the plate scored
Luca Trigiani before a no-doubter to right center by Thomas scored the rest and made it an 11-2 lead. A trio of two-out walks loaded the bases for Trigiani, who recorded his second single of the inning to plate a pair. After
Brett Callahan was hit by a pitch to reload the bases, Wall drew a walk to force in a run and extend the lead to a dozen on what would be the final scoring play of the game.
BEHIND THE BOX SCORE
• Thomas is just the second Hawk to go deep three in a single game. Stafford achieved the feat twice during his 2016 Atlantic 10 Player of the Year campaign: at Richmond on March 26, and at home against Fordham on May 13.
• Thomas led the way with seven RBI and four runs scored on Sunday, while he and Wall both notched three hits. Callahan and Wall scored twice as well.
•
Mike Falco tossed four shutout innings of relief, scattering five hits and striking out four against one walk, to earn the win and improve to 5-2 on the year. George Mason starter Danny Hosley allowed seven runs on seven hits in four-plus innings to take the loss.
•
Noah Weber got the start for the Hawks and was strong in his four innings, allowing just two runs – one earned – on three hits.
UP NEXT
The Hawks host Delaware on Tuesday afternoon. Game time at Smithson Field is set for 3:00 p.m.
