Offense sparks St. Joseph baseball to first win of season; Springdale still winless

By: HSSN Staff
Friday, April 20, 2018 | 8:33 PM

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Tyler Wood didn't need much run support Friday, but his St. Joseph baseball teammates gave him plenty — and then more on top of it.

Wood took a no-hitter into the final inning, and St. Joseph exploded for its biggest offensive output of the season, rolling to a 17-1, six-inning victory over Section 1-A rival Springdale on Friday afternoon.

The Spartans (1-5, 1-3) earned their first victory of the season and moved into a tie with Leechburg for fourth place in the section. They lost their previous four games by mercy rule.

“Coming from being 10-runned every game to 10-running someone, it's a lot different and feels a lot better,” Wood said.

St. Joseph scored its most runs in a game since April 25, 2013. The Spartans tallied nine in their first five games of the season before breaking out Friday.

Wood, a sophomore, allowed one run on one hit, struck out 11 and walked five over 5 ¹⁄₃ innings. He didn't allow a hit until Dylan Hargenrader's RBI single in the bottom of the sixth. Hayden Mallin struck out the final two batters to end the game.

“It's always a good feeling to get that first win, especially when we've had a lead in a couple games, and guys really are working so hard night in and night out,” St. Joseph coach Kurt Krebs said. “To see that be rewarded on the scoreboard is a great feeling.”

Although St. Joseph finished the game with nine hits, eight walks, four Springdale errors and several wild pitches afforded the Spartans plenty of offensive opportunities.

St. Joseph stole eight bases and scored three times on wild pitches, putting up two runs in the second, three in the fourth, four in the fifth and eight in the sixth to put the mercy rule into play.

“We'd obviously like to have a game where we bang out 15 or 20 hits, but sometimes you have to be patient and take what the pitcher gives you,” Krebs said. “I think after the first inning or so, we were able to sit back and be patient and not chase pitches out of the zone. We were able to keep baserunners on and cash those in.”

Springdale (0-6, 0-4) was missing three starters and struggled in the field and at the plate. It was the Dynamos' sixth consecutive loss by mercy rule.

“We try to tell these guys every day not to make excuses, next-man-up mentality,” Springdale coach Brett Burger. “It's tough. We've got a limited number of kids in this program. (We've) still got to take the field every day when the games are scheduled. Nobody's going to lie down for us.”

Springdale starter Dylan Hargenrader took the loss, allowing five runs — one earned — on two hits in 4 ²⁄₃ innings, walking two and striking out seven.

Eight of St. Joseph's nine starters drove in runs, led by Andrew Sullivan with three and Eli Swierczewski with two. Dom Fellowes and Joe Godinez doubled.

Wood, who struck out the side twice and twice stranded Springdale runners in scoring position in the first four innings.

“I feel this is a good waking point for us, feeling that we can win games and not just expect to get to 10-runned,” Wood said. “Especially going up to (No. 1) Vincentian, we've to keep our heads strong, and we've got to keep the mindset that we can win and just keep hitting the ball.”

Springdale will travel to Leechburg on Saturday with the hopes of earning its first win of the season.

“It's the same thing: Leechburg's not going to feel sorry for us, and we can't feel sorry for ourselves,” Burger said. “We've just got to get back at it and try to maintain positivity.”

Doug Gulasy is a Tribune-Review staff writer.