CONWAY, S.C. – The Saint Joseph's baseball team rallied twice, but ultimately came up short in a 12-7 loss to Kansas State at Springs Brooks Stadium on Sunday night.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
• Kansas State (1-2) jumped out to an early lead, scoring four in the second and one in the third.  The Wildcats then extended the lead to 7-0 in the fourth.
 
• Saint Joseph's (1-2) got on the board in the bottom of the fourth as walks to Carson Applegate and Aidan Duda left two on for Michael Pierson, whose double down the left field line brought home the first run of the game for the Hawks.
 
• KSU added two in the sixth, but the Hawks answered in kind with a four-spot of their own.  Joey Pagano hit a one-out single before Duda reached on a fielder's choice and Pagano was safe at second on an error.  Pierson walked to load the bases for Colin Myers, who was hit by the first pitch he saw to force in Pagano.  Alex Kelsey then followed with a sacrifice fly before Tim Dickinson doubled home Pierson and Myers to cut the deficit to 9-5 after six.
 
• Pagano cut the Kansas State lead by another run with a solo home run in the seventh, but the Wildcats got the run back in the eighth to push their lead to 10-6.
 
• The Hawks had a prime opportunity in the bottom of the eighth.  Pierson, Kelsey, and Dickinson each drew walks to load the bases with one out; two batters later, Applegate worked a walk to force in a run and bring the go-ahead run to the plate; unfortunately, KSU's James Guyette escaped the jam with a strikeout.
 
• KSU would then add two in the ninth to set the final margin.
 
BEHIND THE BOX SCORE
• Michael Quevedo was credited with the win for Kansas State after allowing one run in four and a third innings, while Justin Sweeney allowed five runs in three innings to take the loss.  Guyette notched the save without allowing a run in an inning and two-thirds.
 
• Dickinson and Pagano each collected two hits, while Pagano scored three runs and Pierson added two.
 
• Sweeney and Ethan Bowen made their Hawk debuts on the mound on Sunday night, while Sam Greer and Patrick Veintimilla made their first collegiate appearances.
 
UP NEXT
The Hawks will finish out their trip to South Carolina on Monday when they face Washington at 10:30 a.m.