LEWISBURG, Pa. (Interstat) — In a wild, back-and-forth offensive spectacle that defied pregame projections, the Bucknell Bison outlasted the Saint Joseph’s Hawks 15-13 in a nonconference baseball game Saturday at Eugene B. Depew Field.

The game, which saw 28 runs, 30 hits and multiple lead changes, stood in stark contrast to the series opener, a 2-0 pitchers’ duel won by Saint Joseph’s just a day earlier. Interstat’s game simulator had projected a low-scoring 3-2 Bucknell victory, but both lineups erupted early and often.

The most important part of the game was Bucknell’s immediate and relentless response to an early deficit. After being shut out on Friday, the Bison found themselves down quickly as Saint Joseph’s scored three runs in the top of the first inning. The Bison answered with a staggering 10-run bottom of the third inning, completely reversing the game’s momentum and establishing a lead they would never fully relinquish.

That decisive third inning featured eight hits, three walks, two hit batters and was aided by two Saint Joseph’s wild pitches and a passed ball. Billy Fluharty delivered a two-run single, Michael Trommer and Luke Nascimento each added RBI singles, and Garrett Mathias drew a bases-loaded walk. When the dust settled, a 3-0 deficit had become a 10-3 lead.

Saint Joseph’s, however, refused to go quietly. The Hawks chipped away, highlighted by a two-run double from Richard Beggy in the sixth. After Bucknell extended its lead to 13-10 on back-to-back home runs by Lleyton Coupe and Michael Trommer in the bottom of the sixth, the Hawks stormed back to tie the game at 13-13 in the top of the seventh. Beggy again was central, lacing a two-run single, part of his perfect 4-for-4, five-RBI day.

Bucknell reclaimed the lead for good in the bottom of the seventh on an RBI double by Coupe, who finished 2-for-2 with a home run and two RBIs after entering as a pinch-hitter. The Bison added a critical insurance run in the eighth on a bases-loaded walk to Zach Selfon, capitalizing on a Saint Joseph’s fielding error.

The Hawks mounted one final threat in the ninth against Bucknell closer Hadley Maxwell. After a leadoff walk and a fielder’s choice, Blake Primrose walked to put the potential tying runs on base with two outs. Maxwell induced a game-ending flyout to right from Joey Pagano to secure the win and his first save.

Trommer, held hitless in Friday’s loss, rebounded as Bucknell’s top star, going 2-for-4 with a two-run homer, three RBIs and three runs scored. His home run in the sixth was part of a 3-for-3, three-RBI day for Alex Venezia, whose three-run, opposite-field homer in the eighth had brought Saint Joseph’s back within a run.

Everett Garber earned the win for Bucknell despite allowing 10 runs, only three of which were earned, over 5 1-3 innings. He struck out eight. Carson Magill provided crucial relief for Saint Joseph’s with two perfect innings of work. Ethan Bowen also pitched a scoreless inning for the Hawks.

The loss went to Saint Joseph’s reliever Justin Sweeney. Both teams moved to 4-8 on the season. The rubber match of the three-game series is scheduled for Sunday at Saint Joseph’s.