In the bottom of the second inning, Prep sophomore pitcher Evan Matthews walked the bases loaded with only one out. Wood’s Matt Schwartz drove in the first run of the inning, hitting a sacrifice fly to deep left, making it 1-0. The Vikings eventually scored another run off a pair singles to go into the third inning leading 2-0.

In the next half inning, St. Joe’s Prep also looked to take advantage of Wood’s starter early. With Luke Donophan in scoring position, John Coppola roped an RBI double into leftfield giving the Hawks a crucial early run, making it 2-1.

The Prep would eventually put another man in scoring position on third base, but could not tie the game.

In the bottom of the third inning, Matthews again struggled with his command and load the bases with two walks and a hit batter. He walked in a run to give Wood a 3-1 lead. Matthews got out of the inning only letting up a single run but his day would be done on the mound.

After Wood made quick work of the Hawks batters in the top of the fourth inning, the Prep brought in their middle relief pitcher Pat Woltemate. Woltemate retired the side in order, keeping the Hawks’ deficit at two.

In the top of the fifth inning, the Hawks started their offense perfectly, getting the first two batters on first and second. Donophan, in an attempt to move the runners over, bunted down the third base line. What was seemingly a routine out turned into a run for the Hawks, when the Wood defender one hopped the ball past the first baseman and into right field. It would score the runner from second and make the game 3-2.

At this point, Wood Coach, Jim DiGuiseppe, decided to change pitchers. Joey Lancellotti entered the game in a tough situation, with two men still on base, one of whom still in scoring position. Lancellotti struggled with control out of the bullpen, hitting the first batter to load the bases for The Prep. The next batter, Keith Flaherty, stepped up to the plate and lined one through the infield for a two-run single and a 4-3 lead for the Hawks.

“We knew at some point that Lancellotti was going to come in,” Prep head coach Joe Falcone said. “We didn’t know when. He hasn’t thrown a lot this year so I’m sure he’s not on like he was last year, but he’s still got number one stuff. He’s their best. It’s not just his fastball. Keith Flaherty, our third baseman, he’s the one who singled in the two runs to make it 4-3, he hit an off-speed pitch. I think it was a changeup. So he’s not just coming in throwing as hard as he can. He’s got two other pitches that he can put anywhere. It’s one of those things where you just to battle. You just have to see as many pitches as possible and catch one that you like.”