The Saints got dominant pitching from Michael Hutchins and Boden Driscoll and put up 14 runs combined as the St. Lawrence University baseball team swept Saturday's doubleheader against Hobart at Tom Fay Field.

St. Lawrence took the important series win and improved to 10-18 overall and 6-7 in conference play. Hobart fell to 16-11 with the loss and 6-8 in league action.

Hutchins made his return to the mound and didn't disappoint, pitching seven innings, giving up two runs on five hits, and striking out four batters. Driscoll turned in 7.1 innings in game two, giving up two runs on five hits and striking out a career-high eight batters. Brendan Karadenes and Joe LaPrade came on in relief for the Saints to help secure the wins.

Sean Desjardins led the Saints with four RBI on 3-for-8 batting, while John Donnellan and Mike Siano swatted solo home runs in the two games.



Game one: St. Lawrence 7, Hobart 3 (9 Innings)

Hobart found the scoreboard first on the day with a run in the top of the first. Hutchins, who hadn't pitched since the team's Florida trip, started the game with a walk and a hit by pitch, but did a good job to keep the damage to one on a sacrifice fly.

It took until the second for the Saints to respond, but when they did, they hung a crooked number. Timothy Connor led the inning with a single and came around to score after a throwing error after a hit by pitch moved him over. Things spiraled for Hobart as Desjardins brought two in with a double to left center, and Daniel Verrastro stayed hot with an RBI-single to make it 4-1.

The Statesmen made it a 4-2 game in the bottom of the third, but St. Lawrence got the run back in the bottom of the fourth when Donnellan hoisted a hanging ball over the left field wall to make it a three-run game.

John Gannon and Verrastro each brought in a run in the fifth and sixth innings as Karadenes came in to shut the game down late with a five-run lead. The senior gave up a sacrifice fly, but nothing more as the Saints leveled the series at 1-1.

Game one: St. Lawrence 7, Hobart 3 (9 Innings)

The Statesmen once again scored first in the second half of the twin bill, plating a run on a sacrifice fly in the top of the second. Jack Finnegan was able to knot the game in the bottom of the third when his single brought home Matt Davis, who doubled his way aboard.

In what was primarily a pitcher's duel, the next two runs came via the home run ball. In the bottom of the sixth, Siano led off the inning for the Saints, taking a mighty hack at the first pitch. The Hobart pitcher made the mistake of throwing the same pitch, which the sophomore blasted over the left field wall for his first career home run and a 2-1 lead.

However, Hobart answered in the top of the seventh with a solo shot of their own to make it 2-2.

The game, which was tight the whole way, was broken open by the Scarlet and Brown in the bottom of the eighth. Finnegan singled to start the barrage and was followed by a Siano walk and a hit by pitch to load the bases. Brett Federico scorched a single to the third baseman, which they were only able to get a force out on, scoring a run to give the Saints the lead.

With one out and two aboard, the bases were loaded once again by a hit by pitch. Verrastro scorched a ball of his own to the first baseman, which he launched over the head of his catcher, allowing two more runs to score, making it a 5-2 game. Desjardins added insult to injury in the next at-bat, singling home Verrastro and Mike DiStefano, giving the Saints another five-run lead.

LaPrade, who came on in relief of Driscoll and his career day, struck out two in his previous inning and came on in the ninth to seal the deal. After a pair of walks, the first-year forced a double play and struck out a third batter to slam the door at the Statesmen's feet and give St. Lawrence their 11^th strikeout of the game.

Next up:

The Scarlet and Brown have a busy week ahead of them as the team hosts Castleton on Tuesday and Plattsburgh on Wednesday before hosting Clarkson for game one of a crucial series on Friday.