Jakob Reed emerged as the hero in the ninth inning, delivering a clutch single that brought home the winning run.
The tension escalated in the final inning when Justin Igoe ignited hope with a crucial two-out single, paving the way for Colin Myers to take his place on the basepaths. Owen Petrich prolonged the inning with a timely play, reaching base on an error. With the winning run just 90 feet away, Reed stepped up to the plate and delivered a decisive blow, driving a single to left center, scoring Myers and sealing the victory for the Hawks.
On the pitching front, Will McCausland showcased his prowess with a commanding Opening Day performance. Over five innings, he allowed only two runs on six hits while striking out an impressive eight batters, without issuing a single walk. McCausland's dominance was evident as he retired eight consecutive hitters early in the game.
Matt McShane provided solid relief pitching, holding the line for three and a third innings, despite conceding two runs on two hits and recording six strikeouts.
Reed's game-winning hit highlighted his standout performance, tallying three hits throughout the game to lead the Hawks. Picollo, along with teammates Conlan Wall and Max Hitman, contributed two hits apiece, further bolstering the team's offensive effort.
Colin Yablonski tossed a third of an inning and was credited with the win in his Hawk debut.
On the opposing side, Mike DeStefano led the Golden Griffins with an impressive four-hit performance.
The two clubs will resume their three-game set on Saturday with first pitch scheduled for noon.
In other DI action
Incarnate Word 12, Villanova 7
Devin Rivera endured a challenging outing on the mound, surrendering seven earned runs across three innings. In his college debut, freshman Trent Toole pieced together an impressive performance, going 3 for 4 at the plate. He contributed two RBIs, stole a base, and crossed home plate three times.
Meanwhile, transfer Dylan Dennis made an impactful debut as a Wildcat, notching two hits, including a double, and scoring two runs. On the pitching front, reliever Zach Camp delivered a solid performance, pitching 1.2 innings of scoreless baseball while striking out two batters.
