CINCINNATI – A big third inning put the Hawks in the lead and some timely late hits kept them there as the Saint Joseph's baseball team topped Cincinnati, 9-6, at UC Baseball Stadium on Friday.

HOW IT HAPPENED
• Cincinnati (6-10) took the lead early with a run in the first and two more in the second.

• The Hawks came to life in the top of the third.  Tim Cavanaugh reached on an error and Max Hitman drew a walk before Jake Artz doubled them in to bring the Hawks within one.  Thomas followed with a triple off the top of the wall in center field to score Artz and tie the game.

• Andrew Cossetti then took UC starter Tristan Weaver deep over the left field wall to give the Hawks their first lead of the day at 5-3.

• Thomas hit a two-run home run of his own in the fourth to extend the lead, but the Bearcats scored one in the bottom of the frame and then two more in the fifth to make it a 7-6 game.

• Saint Joseph's (10-4) would tack on single runs in the sixth on Cossetti's second home run of the day and in the ninth on an RBI single by Liam Bendo to set the final margin.

BEHIND THE BOX SCORE
• Ryan Devine tossed two and two-thirds shutout innings of relief, striking out three without allowing a hit to earn the victory.  Weaver took the loss, allowing five runs on five hits in two and two-thirds innings, while Matt McShane tossed two shutout innings for his first career save.

• Cossetti had three hits on the day, while four Hawks rapped out a pair.  Cossetti and Thomas drove in three runs apiece, while the duo and Artz each scored twice.

• Every hitter in the Hawk starting lineup reached base for the third time in the last four games.

UP NEXT
The teams will play a pair of seven-inning games on Saturday.  First pitch in the opener is set for noon.