MERION STATION, Pa. – A pair of three-run innings did the majority of the damage and the Hawk pitching staff turned in another strong outing as the Saint Joseph's baseball team beat UMass Lowell, 7-1, at Smithson Field on Saturday afternoon.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
• Saint Joseph's (3-6) struck first in the bottom of the second.  Nate Thomas led off the frame with a walk before Ryan Weingartner singled.  Justin Igoe followed with a double to right center that scored both runners and put the Hawks up, 2-0.
 
• Two batters later, a sacrifice fly by Ryan Picollo pushed the advantage to three.
 
• UMass Lowell (2-11) cut the margin in the top of the third on a two-out single by Ryan Proto.
 
• The Hawks got the run back in the fourth on a two-out double by Picollo.
 
• Luca Trigiani led off the bottom of the seventh with a solo home run before Ryan Cesarini singled home a run.  Weingartner tacked on another RBI hit two batters later to push the Hawk advantage to six.
 
• That would close out the scoring, as Ryan DeSanto retired all six batters he faced to finish off the game.
 
BEHIND THE BOX SCORE
• Matt McShane allowed two hits and struck out three in two and two-thirds innings of relief to secure the win, while Matt Draper was tagged with four runs, three earned, and four hits in five innings to take the loss.  David Owsik got the start for SJU and allowed a run on four hits in three and a third innings.
 
• McShane came on in relief of Owsik in the fourth before handing the reins to Alec Rodriguez, who struck out two in one inning of work before DeSanto polished things off.
 
• Weingartner had a multi-hit day, scoring two runs as well, while Igoe and Picollo drove in two runs apiece.
 
UP NEXT
The teams are set to wrap up the series on Sunday at noon.