Saint Leo, Fla. (March 8) -- The Saint Anselm baseball team rebounded to defeat American International by an 8-5 score in the final game of the Florida trip on Saturday at Saint Leo University. The Hawks finish the trip 4-6, while American International dropped to 0-1 with the loss.

After going down 4-0 through the first five innings, the Hawks responded with five runs in the bottom of the fifth. Eric Simm (Salem, N.H.) singled to start the inning and was cut down at second on a Steven Panza (Watertown, Mass.) fielder's choice, while Adam Hussey (Danvers, Mass.) singled a batter later. Hussey then proceeded to steal second, breaking Saint Anselm's all-time steals record.

After Dave Wirkus (Orange, Conn.) was hit by a pitch, Ryan Gargan (Byfield, Mass.) walked, bringing in Panza. Ryan O'Rourke (Norwood, Mass.) then walked, bringing in Hussey. Matt Sucharewicz (Peabody, Mass.) was then hit by a pitch, bringing in Wirkus. Nick Moreau (Manchester, N.H.) walked, bringing in Gargan and tying the game at 4-4. Simm then walked, giving Saint Anselm the lead, as Ryan O'Rourke scored on the play. Despite only picking up two hits in the inning, the Hawks showed patience at the plate, bringing in five runs.

After the Yellow Jackets picked up a lone run in the sixth, the Hawks struck for three more runs in the bottom of the inning. After Hussey singled and Wirkus reached base on a walk, Gargan homered to left field for a three-run blast.

Matt Stone (West Roxbury, Mass.) started the game for the Hawks, picking up the no-decision. Stone allowed four runs on eight hits with a pair of strikeouts. Neil Hesek (Northboro, Mass.) improved his record to 1-1, picking up the win in relief. Hesek allowed one run on a hit and a walk in the sixth. David Giarrusso (Cranston, R.I.) picked up his third save of the week allowing no hits.

The Hawks finished up at 4-6 overall and are now idle until next weekend, when the team travels to New Haven for a Noon start on Saturday with the Chargers.