Saint Joseph's University

MERION STATION, Pa. – The Saint Joseph's baseball team matched a pair of records on Friday as the Hawks split a doubleheader against VCU at Smithson Field.
 
GAME 1: VCU 9, Saint Joseph's 6
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
• Saint Joseph's (33-16 overall, 23-3 Atlantic 10) took the early lead in the bottom of the first as Alex Kelsey drew a walk and Blake Primrose followed with a two-run home run off of VCU's Patrick Steitz.
 
• The visitors tied the game with two runs in the fourth off of SJU starter Duke McCarron and nosed ahead in the top of the fifth, but the Hawks answered in the bottom of the frame.  Back-to-back singles by Kelsey and Primrose put runners on the corners for Richard Beggy, whose sacrifice fly plated Kelsey to tie the game.
 
• The Rams tacked on two more for a 5-3 lead in the sixth, but the Hawks once again responded.  One-out walks to Alex Venezia and Carson Applegate brought up Joey Gale, who ripped a double to right center to score both runs and tie the game once again.
 
• Unfortunately for the Crimson and Gray, a leadoff home run from Teige Lethart put VCU back on top in the seventh before three more in the top of the ninth made it a 9-5 game.
 
• Primrose led off the ninth with a titanic home run to center field, but that would be it for the Hawks.
 
BEHIND THE BOX SCORE
• Neither starter figured into the decision as VCU's Cooper Campbell allowed two runs on two hits in an inning and a third to earn the win, while Sam Greer was charged with two runs on three hits in two and two-thirds innings of relief.  Zachary Peters allowed a run over the final three innings to earn the save for the Rams.
 
• Primrose continued his torrid start to May, going 4-for-4 with a double, two home runs, a walk, two runs scored, and three driven in.  The round-trippers extended his single-season school record to 22.
 
• Gale collected two RBI on the day while Kelsey chipped in two runs scored as well.
 
GAME 2: Saint Joseph's 6, VCU 4
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
• VCU (28-22 overall, 16-10 Atlantic 10) opened the scoring with two in the top of the fourth, but the Hawks got one back in the sixth as Kelsey singled, stole second, and came around to score on a failed pickoff attempt.
 
• The Rams extended the lead with a pair of two-out runs in the seventh, but the Hawks came to life in the bottom of the frame, pushing four runs across to take the lead.  Applegate led off the inning with a walk and then won a footrace to second base against VCU shortstop Dante DeFranco; the relay throw was too late to retire Tim Dickinson, giving the Hawks two on with nobody out.  Venezia was then hit by a pitch to load the bases for Jason Janesko, who promptly cleared them with a double to the wall in left center that tied the game.
 
• After a sacrifice bunt by Gale, Kelsey ripped a single through the right side to score Janesko and give the Hawks their first lead of the game.  Joey Pagano doubled it in the bottom of the eighth with a leadoff no-doubt-about-it rocket over the bullpen in right field that pushed the lead to 6-4.
 
• Andrew Gaines navigated around some traffic in the eighth and ninth innings, stranding three base runners across the two frames to secure the save.
 
BEHIND THE BOX SCORE
• Gaines recorded his 10th save of the season to lock up the win for Matt Speicher, who allowed two runs in an inning of work but earned the win to move to 6-0 on the season.  Nick Freers faced four batters in the seventh inning and all four came in to score as he took the loss for VCU.
 
• Kelsey had a two-hit game, scoring a run and driving in another, while Janesko added a run scored and three RBI.
 
• Gaines' save tied him with Jimmy Yacabonis (2013) for the most in a single season by a Hawk pitcher; it also moves him into a tie for third all-time.
 
• The Hawks matched the Atlantic 10 record for conference wins in a season with their 23rd; Charlotte posted a 23-4 mark in a 27-game season in 2007.  The squad also tied the program record for wins in a regular season at 33; the 2014 team went 33-14 during the regular season on the way to a program record 35 wins for the year.
 
UP NEXT
The teams will wrap up the series on Sunday; prior to the game, the Hawks will hold their annual Senior Day ceremony.