KINGSTON, R.I. –
Blake Primrose hit two home runs, including the game-winner in the top of the 11th inning, to lead the Saint Joseph's baseball team past Rhode Island, 10-9, at Bill Beck Field on Thursday afternoon.
With the win, the Hawks have eclipsed the program record for regular season victories and the Atlantic 10 record for most conference wins in a season.
HOW IT HAPPENED
• Saint Joseph's (34-17 overall, 24-4 Atlantic 10) took the early lead in the top of the first as
Joey Gale walked,
Alex Kelsey singled, and two batters later,
Richard Beggy recorded an RBI groundout.
• Rhode Island (22-28 overall, 15-13 Atlantic 10) answered in the second with an RBI single by Ryan Henschel, but the Hawks put on a power display in the third inning to retake the lead. After Kesley reached on a two-out error, Primrose drove an 0-2 pitch the opposite way for a two-run home run; Beggy then followed with a solo shot to left to extend the lead to 4-1.
• The Rams got one back in the bottom of the inning on a sacrifice fly by Ryan King.
•
Carson Applegate led off the fourth with a walk before
Tim Dickinson doubled him home for a 5-2 lead;
Alex Venezia was then hit by a pitch before a balk moved the runners to second and third. Kelsey then ripped a double down the left field line to score both and make it a 7-2 game.
• Henschel added an RBI single in the bottom of the sixth before a two-run single by Ryan Thompson cut the Hawk lead to 7-5.
• The Hawks got two back in the seventh. Gale singled, Primrose walked, and
Joey Pagano beat out an infield single to load the bases with two outs for Applegate, who singled home a pair to push the lead to 9-5.
• A two-out single from Brian Connolly in the bottom of the seventh cut the margin to three before the Rams tied the game in the eighth. A Scott Penney RBI triple was followed by a two-run home run from Thompson to tie the score at 9-9 going to the ninth.
• Primrose struck again in the top of the 11th, hitting his second home run of the day and his 24th of the season to put the Hawks back on top.
Micah Wells then retired the Rams in order in the bottom of the inning to end the ballgame.
BEHIND THE BOX SCORE
• Wells allowed a leadoff single in the 10th but then retired the next six hitters to earn his first collegiate victory. Joe Sabbath allowed a run on one hit in two innings to take the loss.
• Primrose was 2-for-4 with two walks, two home runs, three runs scored, and three driven in. Gale and Kelsey added two hits apiece; Gale scored twice, while Kelsey drove in a pair. Beggy and Applegate added two RBI as well.
• Saint Joseph's recorded its 34th win of the season, surpassing the 33 regular season wins of the 2014 squad, which holds the overall program record of 35 victories. It was also the Hawks' 24th conference win of the season, one more than Charlotte notched in 2007. The Hawks tied the previous mark of 23 in one fewer game (26) than it took Charlotte to set the record.
UP NEXT
The series continues on Friday afternoon.
