Standish, Me. - Senior ace Sam Tupper (Yarmouth, ME) led the Saint Joseph's College baseball team to a 10-1 victory over Husson College in the opening round of the North Atlantic Conference Tournament on Friday night at Mahaney Diamond.

With the complete game victory, Tupper moves his personal record to 8-0 on the season. Tupper, who was named first team all-NAC earlier in the day, scattered 8 hits and fanned 8 Eagles in his 9 innings of work.

The Monks jumped out early in the first inning when sophomore rightfielder Wade Oliver (Owl's Head, ME) led off with a triple to deep right field. Oliver would score two pitches later when Husson starter Anthony DeRosa (Bangor, ME) uncorked a wild pitch. 2007 NAC player of the year Luke Enman (Milan, NH) singled, then advanced to second on a DeRosa balk. Centerfielder Dustin Spiller's (Gorham, ME) groundout advanced Enman to third, Enman came home on an RBI single by senior Mark Clapp (Blue Hill, ME), putting the Monks on top 2-0.

After a scoreless second, the Royal Blue bats went back to work in the third inning. After recording back to back strikeouts to start the frame, DeRosa hit Spiller with a pitch. Spiller immediately swiped second base and advanced to third on a throwing error by Husson catcher Joe Robicheau (Bucksport, ME). Mark Clapp delivered again, this time with a sharp double to center. Clapp came around to score on an RBI single by DH Chris Doughty (Windham, ME). Doughty stole second before DeRosa issued a walk to catcher Travis Adams (Saco, ME). Doughty then stole third base, allowing him to come home easily on senior Dan Enman's (Milan, NH) single through the left side. At the end of the inning the Monks led 5-0.

With Tupper cruising on the mound, the Monks tacked on two more runs in the fourth. Senior Keil Martin was hit by a pitch with one out, he later advanced to second on another Husson wild pitch, he was then thrown out attempting to steal third. It would take another two out rally for the Monks to advance their lead. Spiller singled after a walk to Luke Enman, bringing the red-hot Mark Clapp to the plate with an RBI opportunity. Clapp came through once again with his third RBI hit of the day, delivering Luke Enman to the plate. Spiller came home on a wild pitch to put the Monks up 7-0.

The Eagles scored their lone run in the top of the fifth inning. Robicheau singled then scored when Andrew Patterson (Brewer, ME) doubled down the leftfield line.

In the bottom of the eighth inning the Royal Blue bats would end any thoughts of a comeback. Oliver singled to open the inning, then Martin's sacrifice bunt was mishandled by Robicheau. Oliver came home when Luke Enman singled back through the middle. Martin and Enman both came home when Spiller delivered a double to deep left-center field, giving the Monks a 10-1 edge.

Mark Clapp finished the day 3-4, with 3 RBI, while Spiller and Luke Enman put up two hits apiece. Oliver wound up 2-4 in the leadoff spot.

"This is how we wanted to start the tournament" said head coach Will Sanborn. "Sam Tupper showed why he is our ace, and we made the plays behind him." In total the Monks collected 13 hits and took advantage of two Husson errors. "We made a few minor adjustments to our lineup and it paid dividends tonight. Mark Clapp really came through for us, he had a great night and it got everyone going."

The North Atlantic Conference Tournament continues tomorrow with three games on the schedule. Maine-Farmington will take on Husson beginning at 10:00 am in the elimination bracket game. Saint Joseph's will take on Castleton State at 2:00 pm. At 6:00 pm the winner of the UMF-Husson game will take on the loser of the SJC-CSC game. All of the action will take place at beautiful Larry Mahaney Diamond on the campus of Saint Joseph's College.