Box Score
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The Notre Dame Falcons and St. Joseph Pumas were locked in a low scoring contest until a walk-off base hit, gave the Pumas the victory, 4-3, on Saturday afternoon.
The Falcons (1-4 overall) lost both games in the Dunn Hospitality Classic at the USI Baseball Field this weekend. The Pumas (5-1 overall) have been involved in several close games already this season, scoring four runs, or fewer, in five of their six games.
Notre Dame took the first lead of the game in the fifth inning. With two outs, the Falcons put together a rally, getting back-to-back singles from
Dominic Lombardo and
Danny Beaver. Beaver then stole second to put two runners in scoring position for NDC.
Austin Barnhart then came up with a two-run single to right field.
Down by two, St. Joseph's College responded quickly in the bottom of the fifth. The Pumas had runners on first and second, as Joshua Handzik successfully laid down a sacrifice bunt. With two runners in scoring position, Brendan Rivera hit a sacrifice fly to left field, scoring Noah Powell from third base.
In the seventh inning, the Falcons added to their 2-1 lead, when Lombardo doubled and advanced to third base on an error by the Pumas' left fielder, Chase Fieldhouse. He scored on a wild pitch.
Once again, St. Joseph responded in the bottom of the inning. Handzik and Rivera doubled, and Rivera's two-bagger allowed Handzik to touch home plate. Later in the inning, with a runner on third base, a Fieldhouse single plated Rivera, who represented the tying run.
With two outs in the bottom of the 10th inning, Jeff Hightower was walked. Adam Lovell came in as a pinch-runner and went to second base on a throwing error by the Falcons' pitcher,
Danny Matic, on a pickoff attempt. Ryan Keck then singled into right field, scoring the winning run.
For the Falcons, Beaver and Lombardo both had two hits, which included a double. Barnhart had two RBI.
Tyler Gault started on the mound and went seven innings giving up only three runs, and striking out two batters. Matic (0-1) came out of the bullpen and went 2.2 innings giving up an unearned run, picking up the loss.
St. Joseph's had four extra-base hits. Rivera went 2-4 with two RBI, a double and a triple. Keck also had two hits. Quinn Snarskis was the starting pitcher and went seven innings, allowing three runs on nine hits and did not walk one Falcon. Jarrett Hammel (2-0) went three innings, putting the nine Falcons he faced, down in order, picking up the win in the process.
The Falcons will now travel to Auburndale, Fla. and will play Lewis University on March 5. The double-header is scheduled to start at 2:45 PM.
