With clutch hitting, led by five RBI from senior Jordan Ellis, St. Paul’s defeated Mount St. Joseph, 10-7, on Monday in MIAA A Conference baseball, in Irvington.

St. Joe jumped out to an early lead playing mostly small ball versus St. Paul’s starter Charlie Gaines.  In the first inning, senior Patrick Rogers, who was 4-for-5 on the day with three runs scored, singled and later scored on an error.  In the second inning, senior Gehrig McCracken doubled to right, moved to third on a fielder’s choice, and then scored on a RBI ground out by sophomore Kirk Haynes.  Rogers started things again in the third inning, with a lead-off single, and later scored on a wild pitch to push the score to 3-0.  Still, Gaines was able to get out of each inning with only one run, allowing St. Paul’s to stay in the contest.

Meanwhile, Gaels starter Thomas Soloman was mowing down the Crusaders.  Soloman had an almost perfect first run through the St. Paul’s line up, with the only blemish being a lead-off walk, which was later erased with a double play, to start the game.  Finally, in the fourth inning, the Crusader bats came to life.  St. Paul’s loaded the bases, and scored with a RBI walk by senior Paul Giulio and a two-run single by Ellis to tie the score at three.

The Gaels answered with three doubles, by Soloman, Haynes and Rogers, which were the big blows in a three-run rally which pushed St. Joe’s lead back to three runs.  St. Paul’s responded with a rally of its own, with junior Herbie Trice hitting a two RBI base hit, which chased Soloman.  Trice later scored the go-ahead run on a double steal to push the score to 7-6 in favor of the visitors.  Soloman pitched 4.1 innings, striking out six batters while allowing seven earned runs. 

Gaines finally held the Gaels an inning with no runs in the fifth, finishing off his day with five innings pitched, four earned runs and five strikeouts.  With St. Paul’s still leading by one run, reliever senior Paul Giulio then stranded the bases loaded in the sixth inning.

St. Paul’s got key insurance when in the top of the seventh inning, Ellis hit a three-run home run to right center to push the Crusaders lead to four runs. Giulio allowed one run in the bottom of the seventh, even though the only ball the escaped the infield was the final out, a fly out to center-field, securing the save.

It was the most beautiful day of the year so far, with 80-degree temperatures and plenty of sun. However, there was a strong wind from the start of the game, blowing in from right field, which created havoc with several pop ups and fly balls.

St. Paul’s 10, Mount St. Joseph 7
SP 000 340 3 — 10 8 2
MSJ 111 300 1 — 7 14 1
Gaines, Giulio (6) and R Lucido; Soloman, McCracken, Hostutler and Payne
WP: Gaines   LP: McCracken   SV: Giulio
2B: SP-Trice, Wade; MSJ- Jurney, Soloman, Rogers, McCracken 2.
HR: SP- Ellis.