Palmer's Big Day Powers Saint Joseph's Baseball Past Dayton, 8-4

CAMDEN, N.J. – Eddie Palmer was 2-for-4 with a career-high five runs batted in on Friday as Saint Joseph's got back in the win column with an 8-4 victory over Dayton at Campbell's Field.  Kyle Mullen allowed three earned runs over six innings to notch his fourth victory of the season.

Saint Joseph's (14-23, 5-8 Atlantic 10) broke a scoreless tie in the bottom of the fourth inning, exploding for five runs to jump out in front.  Brett Tiagwad led off the frame with a single that dropped in along the right field line for SJU's first hit of the game against UD lefty Cameron Hobson.  Kevin Kratochwill singled and Greg Kumpel was hit by a pitch to load the bases with nobody out.  Two batters later, Chris Hueth drew an RBI walk before Joe Cook looped a single to center to give the Hawks a 3-0 lead.

Palmer then followed with his first hit of the day, ripping a ball into the gap in right center to clear the bases and extend the margin to 5-0.

Dayton (21-18, 6-4 Atlantic 10) got on the board with one on and nobody out in the top of the fifth as Mel Skochdopole ripped a line drive over the left field wall just inside the foul pole to cut the lead to 5-2.  The Flyers added two more in the frame on a total of four hits and an error to quickly slice the Hawk advantage to a single run.

The Hawks posted a singleton in the bottom of the sixth on a fielder's choice by Palmer that plated Hueth to put the Hawks back ahead by two.

Palmer then singled through a drawn-in Flyer infield with one out in the bottom of the eighth to double the margin and effectively ice the victory.

Ryan Kemp retired the Flyers in order in the ninth to wrap up the win after Dominic Favazza allowed two hits and a walk over two innings of relief.

The bullpen preserved the win for Mullen, who improved to 4-4 on the year.  The sophomore went six innings and allowed four runs, three earned, while scattering six hits.  He struck out three against a pair of walks.

Hobson took the loss, falling to 4-4.  He was lifted after six and a third, allowing eight hits and six runs.  UD's leader in strikeouts this season, Hobson only fanned two SJU hitters on Friday.

In addition to Palmer's two-hit, five-RBI performance, Cook, Kratochwill and Tiagwad added a pair of hits apiece to aid the SJU cause.

The teams will be back at it on Saturday night with a 7:15 first pitch lined up at Campbell's Field.  Full coverage is available at SJUHawks.com.