Baseball Closes Out Spring Trip with Two Losses

Baseball Closes Out Spring Trip with Two Losses

AUBURNDALE, FL – Saint Joseph's (2-7) suffered a pair of setbacks, 6-5 and 13-4, to Framingham State (4-6) on the team's final day of the 2011 spring trip. Todd Keneborus '11 (Hollis Center, ME/Cheverus) went 4-4 with a run and four RBI in the twinbill.

In the opener, St. Joe's trailed 4-2 heading into the sixth but scored three runs in the final two turns at bat to secure a 5-4 lead. With one out and bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh, FSU third baseman Daniel Chaisson drove a single down the left field line to knock home the tying and winning runs. Framingham held a 2-1 edge after two innings in the nightcap and went on to alter the complexion of the game with eight runs off five hits in the third frame en route to a 13-4 rout.

With the losses, St. Joe's has now been on the wrong side of the scoreboard in six straight games. The Monks haven't dropped six straight since the 2008 season when the Royal Blue suffered doubleheader setbacks versus Salisbury, Suffolk and Johnson & Wales during the final week of March. That year, St. Joe's nixed the slide by winning seven straight and 18 of the next 21 games, including a GNAC Championship win over top-seeded Suffolk University.

Although the trip certainly did not go as planned for the Monks, several players exceeded expectations and solidified their roles for the 2011 campaign.

Left fielder Sam Butts '13 (Saco, ME) emerged as one of the Monks' top hitters during the southern swing and heads north riding a nine-game hitting streak. The sophomore speedster registered four multiple-hit efforts and leads the team with a .433 (13-30) batting average.

Freshman catcher Alex Lorenc (Nanuet, NY), who hit .350 (7-20) with three doubles on the week, performed like a veteran and has settled in as a middle of the order threat for the Monks. Mike Pratt '13 (Dartmouth, MA) seamlessly made the transition to first base and hit .393 (11-28) with six doubles and seven RBI while seniors Chris Campbell (Rochester, NH) and Keneborus have picked up where they left off last spring.

Pitchers Sam Murray '12 (Walpole, MA), Chad Rafferty '13 (Keene, NH), Nick Whittaker '14 (Yarmouth, ME), Jimmy Kennedy '13 (York, ME) and Joe Gruntkosky '14 (Peabody, MA) all showed flashes of promise for the upcoming season.

Saint Joseph's returns to action on Thursday, March 24th with a nine-inning tilt at Roger Williams University. First pitch is slated for 3:00 PM.