Saint Peter’s Falls In Back To Back Games Vs. Pioneers

FAIRFIELD, Conn. – After taking down Sacred Heart in the first of three games this weekend, the Saint Peter's baseball team fell in games two and three as the Pioneers took the series on Sunday at Veterans Park. 

Grant Neary's Peacocks (5-13, 1-5 MAAC) lost by a score of 4-13 in the game on Saturday before falling in the final game of the series on Sunday, 9-11. The Pioneers (9-8, 4-2 MAAC) stormed back in the bottom of the fifth inning, taking a commanding lead that Saint Peter's was unable to come back from.

HOW IT HAPPENED
GAME ONE: Both teams struggled to put runs up in the first four innings or so, as Saint Peter's held just a 2-1 lead over the Pioneers heading into the bottom of the fifth. That's when Sacred Heart started to find its way, scoring four runs in the inning to take a 5-2 lead.

With the bases loaded in the top of the seventh, Alex Rakas singled up the middle to advance runners including Logan Baker to home plate. The hit cut the Saint Peter's deficit to three at 3-6. The Pioneers responded with seven runs in the bottom of the inning that put the game out of the Peacocks' reach. 

In the ninth, Tommy Kendrick picked up an RBI with a single to left field that scored Jack Fitzharris. The Peacocks ended up falling, 4-13. Tyler DeClusin led the team with four hits while Kendrick had the most RBIs with two. 

GAME TWO: Despite committing three less errors than Sacred Heart, Saint Peter's couldn't hold on to its lead in the fifth inning which came back to bite in the end. The Peacocks got off to a hot start, scoring four runs in the first inning. The four runners that reached home plate for SPU were Garrett Greco, Ashby Vining, Ethan Starks and Baker.

Sacred Heart then came back with five runs in the first and second innings to take its first lead of the game. Later on in the top of the fifth, Saint Peter's rattled off three runs to regain the lead at 7-5. DeClusin scored followed by Baker for the second time of the day and then Alex Manent. 

In the bottom of the inning, the Pioneers put up five runs before hitting a homer in the sixth to extend their lead to 11-7. The Peacocks fought back in the seventh as Tyler Smith hit a double that scored two, but it wasn't enough as SPU fell by a final score of 9-11.

Saint Peter's had four players with two hits as Starks led the way with three RBIs.

UP NEXT
The Peacocks will have two days of rest before facing off against NJIT on the road on Wednesday, Mar. 19 at 7:30 p.m. ET. Read Full Article