MERION STATION, Pa. – Five multi-run innings provided an offensive spark as the Saint Joseph's baseball team rolled past Iona, 15-5, at Smithson Field on Friday afternoon.

HOW IT HAPPENED
• Saint Joseph's (5-8) ran out to an early lead and never looked back.  After Ryan Cesarini was hit by a pitch with two out in the bottom of the first, Nate Thomas made his mark on the game – and the scoreboard – with his fourth home run of the season.  Ryan Weingartner followed with a single before matriculating his way around the bases and scoring on a single by Justin Igoe.

• Iona (2-12) got two in the second, but this time it was Brett Callahan with the two-run home run to push the lead back to three.  A Cesarini walk would eventually lead to an RBI single by Weingartner to make it a 6-2 game.

• After the Gaels got one back in the top of the third, but the Hawks found some breathing room in the fourth.  Conlan Wall walked before Cesarini was hit for the second time; Thomas followed with a double to plate Wall before Weingartner loaded the bases with a walk.  Igoe then scored Cesarini and Thomas with a single to center to push the score to 9-3.

• Iona scored a run in the top of the fifth, but the Hawks broke things open in the bottom half of the inning.  Walks to Callahan and Wall set up Cesarini for an RBI single to reach double digits on the day before an intentional walk to Thomas loaded the bases.  Weingartner then singled to left; an ensuing defensive misplay allowed the bases to clear and the Hawks to take a 13-4 lead.

• The Gaels plated a run in the sixth before the Hawks set the final margin in the seventh as Cesarini scored on a wild pitch and Thomas scored on a sacrifice fly by Ryan Picollo.

BEHIND THE BOX SCORE
• Will McCausland got the start for the Hawks and was charged with four runs on eight hits in four-plus innings and did not factor into the decision.  Peter Gallo earned the win after allowing a run on two hits in two innings of relief, while Frank Ciccone faced just two batters over the minimum over the final three inning for his first collegiate save.  Teo Torrado tossed two innings after getting the start for Iona; he took the loss after allowing six runs on five hits.

• The 15 runs scored by the Hawks are a season-high; Cesarini scored five times, while Thomas touched home four times.

• Thomas and Weingartner each went 3-for-3 with two walks and three runs batted in while Igoe drove in three as well.

• The Hawks went 11-for-11 on stolen base attempts, breaking the previous single-game program records of nine stolen bases and 10 attempts, set on February 26, 1995, at Georgetown.

UP NEXT
The teams will conclude the series on Saturday, as they will now play a doubleheader.  First pitch in the opener is set for noon at Smithson Field.