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Photo Credit: Steve McLaughlin Photography
Photo Credit: Steve McLaughlin Photography
Posted: May 02, 2026

Baseball Concludes 2026 Season Against Norwich on Saturday

Pod B Program Video Box Score

Pitching

Win: Peter Idleman (1-2)
Loss: Marcus Tarfano (2-1)
Batting
Saint Joseph (Conn.)
2B: none
3B: none
HR: none
Norwich
2B: none
3B: none
HR: none
Full stats
WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – The second‑seeded University of Saint Joseph (USJ) baseball team saw its 2026 season come to a close Saturday morning, falling to sixth‑seeded Norwich University, 4‑3, in Pod B of the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Baseball Championship Tournament.

The Blue Jays concluded their third season in program history with a 25‑17 overall record. With the win, Norwich (13‑24) advanced to the 3:00 p.m. game on Saturday, where it will face the loser of the 12:00 p.m. matchup between No. 3 Saint Joseph's College of Maine and No. 7 Lasell University.

HOW IT HAPPENED

  • Norwich struck first in the bottom of the opening inning as Michael Sabasteanski lined an RBI single to left‑center field, giving the Cadets a 1‑0 lead.
  • The Cadets added to their advantage in the third inning when Sabasteanski delivered again with an RBI single, scoring Geffen Franus to make it 2‑0.
  • USJ began to respond in the fifth inning as sophomore infielder Jack Kane (West Hartford, Conn.) lifted a sacrifice fly to center field, bringing home freshman infielder Sam Balducci (South Windsor, Conn.) to cut the deficit to 2‑1.
  • The Blue Jays carried that momentum into the sixth, scoring twice to take their first lead of the game. Balducci drew a bases‑loaded walk to tie the game at 2‑2 before junior infielder Tyler Carlstrom (Rocky Hill, Conn.) reached on a fielder's choice, allowing senior infielder Ryan Shaw (Ellington, Conn.) to score and give USJ a 3‑2 edge.
  • Norwich answered in the bottom of the seventh, plating two runs to regain the lead at 4‑3, which would hold as the final score.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

  • Senior infielder JJ Fox (Killingworth, Conn.), Kane, and Carlstrom each recorded multi‑hit performances.
  • Balducci showed strong plate discipline, drawing a team‑high two walks.

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