STANDISH, ME – Saint Joseph’s (14-8, 4-2 GNAC) split a pair of games with conference-rival Johnson & Wales University (4-20, 2-4 GNAC), losing the opener 7-3 and rebounding to win the nightcap 11-1.
St. Joe’s second baseman Mike Burdin ’10 (Gardiner, ME) was 4-8 with two runs, two RBI and two doubles in the twinbill and right fielder Todd Keneborus ’11 (Hollis Center, ME/Cheverus) went 3-7 with three runs and three RBI and hit his team-leading fourth triple of the year in the closing contest.
GAME ONE
The opening game was a frustrating one for the Monks, as JWU starter Nick Marine ’10 (Bristol, RI) kept the potent SJC lineup off balance, allowing just six hits and three runs in eight innings. Wildcats’ second baseman Nick Alosco ’11 (Mahopac, NY) provided the southpaw with three runs off one swing in the third inning, as the junior belted a three-run jack to right-center to put his team ahead 3-0.
St. Joe’s tallied a run off an infield error in the fourth and plated a pair of two-out runs in the seventh to force an extra frame, as Chris Campbell ’11 (Rochester, NH) registered an RBI single and scored to tie the game when Burdin doubled to left.
The momentum swing didn’t affect the visitors, however, as the Wildcats proceeded to score four runs off three hits in the top of the eighth to take a 7-3 lead. The Monks were unable to mount a serious threat in the bottom of the eighth.
SJC starting pitcher Pat Moran ’10 (Winterport, ME) tossed seven innings and allowed five runs and seven hits with five strikeouts. Mason Roberge ’11 (Franklin, NH) suffered the loss after allowing two runs off two hits in 0.2 innings of relief in the eighth and Adam Stanclift ’13 (Chesterfield, NH) retired the only batter he faced in the final frame.
In eight innings, Marine fanned a pair and allowed three runs off six hits to earn the victory on the hill for the Wildcats. Third baseman Jon Melendez ’10 (Providence, RI) went 2-4 with two runs and two doubles.
GAME TWO
It took several innings for the SJC bats to come to life in the nightcap contest, as the Royal Blue failed to push a run across until the fourth inning against JWU starter Jeff Jordan ’10 (Woodbridge, NJ). Thankfully for the Monks, SJC starter Sam Murray ’12 (Walpole, MA) was very effective and didn’t allow a run until the seventh.
After three and a half scoreless innings, the Monks finally broke the seal when Eric LaBatte ’11 (Rochester, NH) plated Ben Grant-Roy ’10 (Biddeford, ME) with a single with one out in the fourth. St. Joe’s added three more off four hits in the fifth, as Keneborus, Grant-Roy and LaBatte all recorded RBI’s in the frame to put the Monks on top 4-0.
The Royal Blue lineup came to life with seven runs off five hits to gain an 11-0 cushion in the bottom of the sixth. Keneborus plated a pair with a triple to right and Burdin, Craig Woodbrey ’10 (Gorham, ME), Mike Pratt ’13 (Dartmouth, MA) and Travis Adams ’10 (Saco, ME) all notched RBI’s in the big inning.
Pinch-hitter Aaron Fenstermacher ’13 (Dixfield, ME) sent a Murray offering over the left field wall to start the top of the seventh, capping the game scoring with the Monks taking the 11-1 win and salvaging the conference split.
Burdin, Keneborus, Grant-Roy and Moran all registered two hits for the Monks and Murray fanned three with 10 hits and one run allowed in the complete game victory.
Melendez went 2-3 for the Wildcats and Jordan suffered the loss after allowing six runs off nine hits and three walks in 5.1 innings. Marc Sommerhalter ’12 (Emerson, NJ) allowed five runs off three hits and three walks in 0.2 innings of relief.
St. Joe’s turned six double plays in the doubleheader and has 21 twin-killings so far this season. The program’s single-season record for double plays turned is 40 (2008).
The Monks will host Bowdoin College in a nine-inning non-league game on Tuesday, April 6th at 4:00 PM. Johnson & Wales will host Curry College on Tuesday at 3:30 PM.
