Belisle’s Two-Run Home Run Lifts Baseball Past Bowdoin, 6-4, Tuesday Evening

WINTER HAVEN, Fla. — Senior catcher Chase Belisle (Wolcott, Conn.) launched his first home run of the season, a two-run shot that proved to be the difference as the University of Saint Joseph (USJ) baseball team returned to the win column Tuesday evening with a 6-4 victory over Bowdoin College (Bowdoin). With the result, the Blue Jays improve to 5-1 on the season, while the Polar Bears fell to 1-3.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• USJ struck first in the opening frame as sophomore infielder Jack Kane (West Hartford, Conn.) came around to score on a defensive miscue, giving the Blue Jays a 1-0 lead.
• Bowdoin evened the score in the top of the second when Liam Foley delivered an RBI single to center field.
• The Blue Jays regained the lead in the bottom of the fourth. Freshman infielder Sam Balducci (South Windsor, Conn.) grounded out to first, allowing Kane to score and put USJ ahead 2-1. Later in the inning, senior infielder Ryan Shaw (Ellington, Conn.) singled to center to plate senior outfielder Dom Scalia (Northford, Conn.), extending the advantage to 3-1.
• Bowdoin responded in the fifth inning, scoring twice to tie the game at 3-3.
• USJ answered right back in the bottom half of the inning when S. Balducci drew a bases-loaded walk to give the Blue Jays a 4-3 lead.
• The game remained tight until the eighth inning, when Belisle delivered the decisive blow with a two-run home run, pushing USJ's lead to 6-3 heading into the ninth.
• Bowdoin threatened in the final frame as Will Lougue led off with a solo home run to trim the deficit to 6-4, but the Blue Jays closed the door from there to secure their fifth win of the season.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Junior pitcher Kaden Murphy (Woodstock, Conn.) got the start for USJ, tossing 4.2 innings while allowing six hits, three runs, and striking out three.
• Sophomore pitcher Marcus Tarfano (Southington, Conn.) earned the win in relief, pitching 4.1 innings of one-run ball while surrendering just three hits and striking out three.
• Belisle led the offense with two hits and two RBIs.
• The Blue Jays displayed great patience at the plate, drawing a season-high eight walks.

UP NEXT

The Blue Jays return to the field on Thursday, March 12, when they take on UMass. - Boston. First pitch between the Blue Jays and the Beacons is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. at Lake Myrtle Park in Auburndale, Fla.

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