Merion Station, Pa. – (April 28, 2023) – Saint Joseph's Brett Callahan had the go-ahead RBI-single in the bottom of the seventh, while Cole Stetzar got out of a bases loaded situation in the ninth, as the Hawks posted a 2-1 win over the Fordham Rams at Smithson Field on Friday.
Moved to a 10:00 AM start due to rain in the forecast later in the day, Fordham got on the board right away in the first inning, as
Ryan Thiesse lined a leadoff single to right and moved to second on a walk to
Peter DeMaria.
Tommy McAndrews then connected on an RBI-single to left, scoring Thiesse from second for the 1-0 advantage.
The score stayed that way due to the efforts of Fordham starting pitcher
Declan Lavelle, who tied a career-long with five shutout innings, allowing two hits with three strikeouts.
The Hawks got to the Fordham bullpen, tying the game at one in the sixth after Lavelle's departure. Brett Callahan recorded a leadoff triple off Fordham reliever
Nolan Hughes and scored on a sacrifice fly by Justin Igoe to tie the game at one.
Saint Joseph's then had two on and one out in the seventh, where Callahan delivered an RBI-single to right off Fordham reliever
Ben Kovel to score Luke Zimmerman from second and a 2-1 lead.
Fordham threatened to tie the game in the ninth with two outs.
Michael Taylor reached on an infield single with pinch-runner
Nico Boza stealing second.
Sebastian Mexico and Thiesse both followed with walks to load the bases. Saint Joseph's went to the bullpen for Cole Stetzar, who struck out
Cian Sahler for the final out and his fourth save of the season.
Matt McShane (3-0) got the win, allowing two hits over 2.2 innings of relief, while Hughes (1-3) took the loss, giving up two runs in 1.1 innings of relief.
The pitching staff for both teams allowed just a total of 12 hits in the game, with Fordham having seven from seven different players.
The two teams will now attempt to play a doubleheader on Saturday at noon, weather pending.
