Box Score JERSEY CITY, N.J.- Despite battling back from a four-run deficit to come within a single tally, the Saint Peter's University baseball team was unable to hold on and fell, 13-5, to Seton Hall Tuesday afternoon.
Leadoff hitter Matt Speckmann (Cherry Hill, N.J./Cherry Hill West) finished 2-for-4 with a walk and scored three runs to lead the Peacocks (14-26).
Four different Pirates finished with multi-hit games to lead Seton Hall (27-16), led by Giuseppe Papaccio's 3-for-5, two-RBI, one run scored performance.
Saint Peter's trailed the Pirates by four runs (6-2) heading into the seventh, but were able to rally back for three runs in the bottom of the frame to get within one run.
The Pirates opened up the game with a 1-0 lead after scoring on a sacrifice fly by Scott Kalamar, but the hosts quickly tied the contest during their turn at bat as Brian Schroeder (Iselin, N.J./JFK-Iselin) worked a bases loaded walk to score Speckmann who managed an infield single to start off the frame.
SHU went on to score a run in each of the next two innings to jump in front 3-1, before putting up a three-run fifth to take a comfortable 6-1 advantage. The Peacocks sliced a run off their deficit in the bottom of the fifth. With runners on the corner, Robert Moore (Ridge, N.Y./Longwood High School) would groundout to first, and while Chris Grimes (Iselin, N.J./JFK-Iselin) was getting caught in a run-down on second, Speckmann was able to cross home plate (6-2).
Reliever Kevin Croucher (Wayne, N.J./DePaul Catholic) was able to keep the visitors scoreless for the sixth and seventh, allowing the Peacocks to get within one following their three-run seventh.
With one out already in the books, freshman Jon Kristoffersen (Jefferson, N.J./Jefferson Township High School) would single through the left side and advance to second on a wild pitch. A basehit by Speckmann moved Kristoffersen to third before Matt Mancini (Toms River, N.J./Toms River North) delivered an RBI base-hit to score the rookie (6-3). Both Speckmann and Mancini proceeded to succesfully steal third and second, respectively, and on the play, Speckmann scurried home as the Pirates' catcher overthrew second base in attempt to throw the runner out.
Saint Peter's added their final run of the inning on a single to right by Moore.
The one-run deficit proved to be short lived however, as Seton Hall tacked on three runs in the eighth and four in the ninth. A bases-clearing triple with the bases-loaded by Zach Weigel capped the four-run ninth for the Pirates.
Saint Peter's returns home tomorrow for its final non-conference contest of the 2013 season against Monmouth University at 3:30pm.
