SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Saint Joseph's baseball team rallied back from an early deficit on Saturday, but could not get across the line as Wofford tacked on late runs to hold on to a 10-6 result at Russell C. King Field.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
• Both teams had runners on base early but it was Wofford (8-2) that eventually broke through with five runs in the bottom of the third.
 
• Saint Joseph's (2-7) got on the board in the top half of the fourth.  Joey Pagano led off the frame with a single before a Carson Applegate walk put two on with nobody out.  Jack Saker drew a walk two batters later to load the bases; two batters after that, Joey Gale laid down a bunt single to score Pagano and make it a 5-1 game.
 
• The Terriers got the run back in the sixth, but the Hawks cut the margin to a single run in the seventh.  Gale led off the frame with a single before Alex Kelsey doubled him home; a Jason Janesko single and a Blake Primrose walk then loaded the based for Pagano, who doubled in a pair of his own to cut it to a 6-4 game.
 
• Another Applegate free pass loaded the bases back up for Richard Beggy, who lofted a sacrifice fly to bring the Hawks back within one.
 
• Unfortunately for the Crimson and Gray, a three-run home with two outs in the eighth extended the Wofford lead to 10-5; Beggy would be hit by a pitch and score on a single by Gale in the ninth, but the Hawks would get no closer.
 
BEHIND THE BOX SCORE
• Alec Bouchard was credited with the win for Wofford, while Cole Fehrman took the loss for SJU.  Christian Coppola turned in another solid relief outing for the Hawks, tossing four innings and allowing just one run on two hits while striking out seven.
 
• Gale recorded a game-high three hits out of the leadoff spot, scoring a run and driving in two more; he also walked to reach base four times on the day.  Kelsey and Pagano added two hits apiece.
 
UP NEXT
The series finale is set for Sunday at 1:00 p.m.