DAVIDSON, N.C. – The Saint Joseph's baseball team opened conference play on Thursday night, falling to Davidson, 9-8, on a walk-off single at Wilson Field.
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HOW IT HAPPENED
• Saint Joseph's (9-14 overall, 0-1 Atlantic 10) got on the board in the top of the second inning.Â
Ryan Picollo reached on a one-out double before advancing to third on a single by
Tim Dickinson. A passed ball plated Picollo before
Brandon Drapeau reached on an error that allowed Dickinson to score and double the lead.
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Conlan Wall then led off the third with a single and went to third on a single by
Ryan Cesarini.Â
Ryan Weingartner then reached on an error that brought Wall home to make it a 3-0 game.
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• Davidson (12-13 overall, 1-0 Atlantic 10) got one back in the third on a home run by Jacob Friend before a four-run fourth gave the hosts a 5-3 lead.
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• That's where it stayed until the top of the seventh. Drapeau and
Max Hitman started the frame with a walk and a single, respectively, before a sacrifice bunt by
Jakob Reed moved the runners up a base. Two batters later, Cesarini laced a single to right to score both runners and tie the game.
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• The Wildcats got a sacrifice fly from Nick Calero in the bottom of the seventh to go back in front, 6-5. In the eighth, Davidson padded the lead with a pair on a double steal and a wild pitch.
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• The Hawks drew level in the ninth. Hitman laced a one-out single before pinch hitter
Carter Jagiela drew a walk. Wall, Cesarini, and Weingartner then hit three consecutive RBI singles to tie the game at 8-8.
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• Unfortunately for the Crimson and Gray, Eli Putnam hit a walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth to win it for Davidson.
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BEHIND THE BOX SCORE
• Jason Ban finished the game for Davidson, tossing two-thirds of an inning, to get the win.Â
David Owsik was charged with the loss, allowing one run in two-thirds of an inning.
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Will McCausland got the start for the Hawks and was charged with five runs in three and two-thirds innings. Wilson Perkins allowed five runs in six and two-thirds in a no decision for Davidson.
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• Wall and Cesarini notched three hits apiece, with Cesarini adding three RBI and Weingartner driving in a pair. Wall and Hitman each scored twice.
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UP NEXT
The middle game of the series is scheduled for Friday at 2:00 p.m.
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