It is that time of year again where the weather starts to change on a daily basis and baseball starts to pick back up again. The Saint Anselm baseball team is looking for a bounce back year after last year’s disappointing season.

The Hawks started their season down in North Carolina and faced East Stroudsburg for a two-game series. The Hawks went on to prevail in both games winning them 3-2, and 4-0. The Hawks got help in the first game from senior pitcher Adam Krol who went four innings, three strike outs while only giving up 2 ER. Junior outfielder Connor Parent who brought in a run with a single in the bottom of 6th. Freshman pitcher Brian Wojichowski picked up the save in the last inning.

In the next game, junior pitcher JJ Dunn pitched a complete game 2-hit shutout. He struck out 8 people while only walking one. This was his first career shutout and nobody from Stroudsburg went past first base. With two runners on in the top of the seventh, junior infielder Tyler Mckeon roped a two run single to make it 4-0.

The Hawks then played Le Moyne in a one game series in which they lost 7-0 over nine innings.  The Hawks were not able to get much going on the offensive end while only picking up five hits. The Hawks pitchers were torched giving up seven runs. Sophomore pitcher Ryan Schworer got lit up by Le Moyne early giving up 2 hits, five walks, and four earned runs over one inning of work.

The Hawks then traveled to the City of Brotherly Love to play University of the Sciences in a three-game series. The Hawks lost the first one 10-8. The Hawks were up 8-5 at the beginning of the bottom of the fifth.  

On the offensive side, the Hawks got help from junior outfielder Oscar Larranaga, who tripled and brought in two RBIs. Senior infielder Dan Bodi had an impactful day getting two hits, walking once and coming around to score. He brought in an RBI as well.

The Hawks could not hold on the to the lead very long as in the bottom of the sixth they have up five runs. Sophomore Danny Garofalo could not hold it together on the mound, giving up two hits, three walks, and four earned runs. He also was charged with the loss.

The Hawks were able to turn it back around in the weekend picking up a 12-2 win. The Hawks sit at a 3-3 record which is not the best start the Hawks could have had.

Some of the bright spots on the offensive side have been senior first baseman Dan Bodi who has been tearing it up with a .462 average, four walks, and one RBI, junior Connor Parent has also been playing well with a .316 average, six hits, four RBIs, and three walks. One of the bright spots on the pitching staff so far has been junior Pitcher JJ Dunn who pitched a complete shutout.

While it was not the worst start to the season that the Hawks could have had, it was not the best start for them as well. Saint Anselm will look to improve over the course of the season. Their first home game is scheduled for March 28 vs St. Michael’s.