After watching a four-run lead evaporate in the late innings, Saint Joseph’s responded with poise and power Sunday afternoon, scoring five times over the final two frames to defeat Wofford, 10–6, at Russell C. King Field.
The win lifts the Hawks to 3–7 and salvages the series finale.
Saint Joseph’s controlled the game early.
Jason Janesko opened the scoring in the first with an RBI single that plated Alex Kelsey. The Hawks added two more in the second when Carson Applegate reached on an error, moved to third on a single by Richard Beggy and scored on a wild pitch. Tim Dickinson later lined a run-scoring single to give Saint Joseph’s a 3–0 edge.
The offense stayed aggressive in the third. Kelsey and Janesko delivered back-to-back singles before Blake Primrose lifted a sacrifice fly to extend the lead to 4–0.
Wofford (8–3) answered with a sacrifice fly in the bottom half, but Joey Gale restored control in the fourth with a solo home run to right, pushing the margin to 5–1.
Luke Parise was sharp through five innings, allowing just one run on four hits while striking out four. But the game turned in the seventh.
With the bases loaded, Wofford used a fielder’s choice and two Hawk errors to score four runs and seize a 6–5 lead. The rally was fueled more by opportunity than loud contact, but it flipped the momentum.
Saint Joseph’s answered immediately.
Singles by Joey Pagano and Augie Maslo, along with a walk to Beggy, loaded the bases for Gale. The senior delivered again, lining a two-run single to put the Hawks back in front, 7–6.
The insurance came in the ninth. Janesko reached on an error and moved up on a single by Primrose. Applegate then singled home Janesko to make it 8–6 before Beggy ripped a two-run triple to right, stretching the lead to four.
Andrew Gaines closed the door in the bottom of the ninth, retiring the Terriers in order to finish a dominant relief outing. Gaines (1–0) tossed 2.2 shutout innings, allowing just one hit and striking out three to earn the win.
Matt Fitzgibbon was charged with three earned runs in 1.1 innings during Wofford’s seventh-inning surge. Hiram Lewis took the loss for the Terriers.
Saint Joseph’s pounded out 15 hits in the victory.
Gale led the way, going 3-for-5 with three RBIs and a home run. Beggy finished 2-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs scored, including the pivotal ninth-inning triple. Kelsey, Janesko and Primrose each added two hits as the Hawks generated consistent traffic throughout the afternoon.
After surrendering the lead in the seventh, Saint Joseph’s didn’t flinch.
Instead, the Hawks delivered their most complete offensive response of the weekend — and left Spartanburg with momentum.
Saint Joseph’s returns home Wednesday for its home opener against Rider at 2:30 p.m.
Villanova dropped the series finale to Florida Atlantic, 15–5, after the Owls erupted for six runs in the first and four more in the second at FAU Baseball Stadium. The Wildcats (2-6) responded with four runs across the fifth and sixth innings, highlighted by RBI singles from Brayden Leonard, JoJo Montgomery, and Austin Lemon, plus a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch to Aidan Barry. Lemon led the offense, going 3-for-5 with two RBIs, as Villanova finished with 10 hits and no defensive errors. JP Podgorski provided stability in relief with two scoreless innings and two strikeouts, but FAU’s early 10-0 surge proved insurmountable.
Penn fell to Mercer, 10–5, despite jumping out to a 3-0 lead in the second on Jack Warner’s three-run home run, the first hit of his collegiate career. The Bears answered with a six-run third inning, highlighted by a two-run homer from Logan Shepherd, and added insurance runs in the sixth and seventh. Jarrett Pokrovsky went 3-for-5 with a double, while Jay Secretarski extended his hitting streak to six games with a fourth-inning double. Penn added RBIs from Gavin Degnan and Nick Spaventa, but Mercer reliever Aidan Hayse closed the door late to secure the series sweep.
Penn fell to Mercer, 10–5, despite jumping out to a 3-0 lead in the second on Jack Warner’s three-run home run, the first hit of his collegiate career. The Bears answered with a six-run third inning, highlighted by a two-run homer from Logan Shepherd, and added insurance runs in the sixth and seventh. Jarrett Pokrovsky went 3-for-5 with a double, while Jay Secretarski extended his hitting streak to six games with a fourth-inning double. Penn added RBIs from Gavin Degnan and Nick Spaventa, but Mercer reliever Aidan Hayse closed the door late to secure the series sweep.
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