MERION STATION, Pa. – The Saint Joseph's baseball team earned a series sweep of Rhode Island with a dramatic walk-off win on Sunday, topping the Rams 6-5 at Smithson Field.

HOW IT HAPPENED
• Rhode Island (20-27 overall, 10-11 Atlantic 10) took a 1-0 lead on a sacrifice fly by Addison Kopack in the top of the second, but the Hawks got the run back in the bottom of the frame on a bases-loaded walk by Brett Callahan.

• The Rams went ahead once again on an error in the fifth, but Ryan Cesarini led off the bottom of the inning with a solo home run to tie the game at 2-2.

• Saint Joseph's (25-20-1 overall, 15-6 Atlantic 10) went ahead in the sixth as Cesarini hit into a fielder's choice that brought home Callahan for a 3-2 lead.

• URI took a 5-3 lead in the seventh on three-run home run by Billy Butler, but an RBI double by Luke Zimmerman cut the deficit to a single run.

• The Hawks had chances to tie it in the seventh and eighth before breaking through in the ninth.  Zimmerman led off the frame with a single before eventually scoring on a groundout by Callahan.  SJU would eventually load the bases, but could not score the winning run.

• That would have to wait until the 10th, as Justin Igoe and Nate Thomas began the inning with walks.  Three batters later, with two outs and runners on the corners, Cam Walker hit a ground ball to second; Kopack mishandled it, allowing Walker to reach safely and Igoe to cross the plate with the winning run.

BEHIND THE BOX SCORE
• Luke Gabrysh tossed three shutout innings of relief to earn the win, while Brandon Hsu walked both batters he faced to start the bottom of the 10th inning, including Igoe, to take the loss.

• Neither starter figured in the decision, with Domenic Picone allowing two runs – one earned – while striking out eight and conceding just three hits in six innings for Saint Joseph's, while Braeden Perry allowed two runs on four hits in four and a third innings for Rhode Island.

• Zimmerman led the way with three hits, while Thomas and Hitman notched two hits apiece.  Callahan and Cesarini each drove in a pair of runs as well.

• The sweep of the Rams is the first for Saint Joseph's over Rhode Island since 1992.

• The Hawks concluded the home portion of their schedule 20-5-1, the best home record in a season in program history.

UP NEXT
The Hawks visit Villanova on Tuesday for their final non-conference game of the season.