STANDISH, ME – Saint Joseph's (11-7, 2-0 GNAC) defeated conference-rival Lasell College (10-10, 0-4 GNAC) twice, 4-0 and 6-2, in the Monks' first GNAC twinbill of the 2011 campaign on a blustery Wednesday afternoon at Larry Mahaney Diamond. Senior third baseman Chris Campbell (Rochester, NH) went 5-6 with two runs and an RBI in the sweep.
Five St. Joe's pitchers – Chad Rafferty '13 (Keene, NH), Kevin Chamberlain '11 (Scarborough, ME), Mason Roberge '11 (Franklin, NH), Joe Gruntkosky '14 (Peabody, MA) and Andrew Devereaux '12 (Hope Valley, RI) – combined to allow just five hits and five walks with 11 strikeouts in the two-game set. Only three Lasell batters advanced to third base over 14 innings of play.
GAME ONE
The Monks promptly put up two runs in the bottom of the first when three of the team's senior captains posted productive plate appearances. Campbell lined a double to left-center and scampered home on a single by right fielder Todd Keneborus (Hollis Center, ME/Cheverus). Catcher Ian Lee (Hampden, ME) plated Keneborus with a sacrifice fly to center field to make it a 2-0 game.
Saint Joseph's doubled its advantage when first baseman Mike Pratt '13 (Dartmouth, MA) belted a two-run two-bagger in the bottom of the third inning. Keneborus and designated hitter Alex Lorenc '14 (Nanuet, NY), who reach with a single up the middle, scored on the two-base hit.
With a 2-3 effort, Campbell was the Monks' lone repeat hitter in the triumph. Campbell, Pratt and shortstop Dan Achorn '12 (Bow, NH) all rapped doubles for Saint Joseph's.
SJC starting pitcher Chad Rafferty, who improved to 2-1 on the season, tossed three innings of no-hit ball and allowed just one hit and walked a pair with seven K's over five innings of work. Chamberlain worked two innings of one-hit relief and fanned one batter.
The SJC infield turned three double plays in the winning effort.
Lasell starter Michael Rodriguez '13 (Brockton, MA) falls to 1-1 on the year after allowing four runs off seven hits and one walk with four K's in six innings.
GAME TWO
The Monks matched their opening-game production in the first inning of the nightcap tilt. Center fielder Nate Martin '13 (Chebeague Island, ME) led off with an infield single and scored when Lorenc sent a double to right-center. Keneborus, who reached via base hit, and Lorenc both scored on a Pratt double down the left field line and Lee plated Pratt with a base knock to right field to make it a 4-0 game.
The Lasers cut their deficit to 4-1 with a run in the top of the second when catcher Christopher Pittman '14 (Brockton, MA) doubled to left-center and scored on a groundout to first base off the bat of shortstop Carlton Lentini '12 (Wilmington, MA).
St. Joe's managed to regain the four-run lead in the bottom of the second when Keneborus plated Campbell, who singled through the right side and stole second, with a base hit down the left field line.
Martin, who doubled off the left-center fence, scored on a Campbell single to right field in the bottom of the fourth to lift the Monks to a 6-1 cushion.
Lasers second baseman Josh Sullivan '12 (Rockland, MA) opened the top of the sixth with a free pass and later scored on a Jacob Salkovitz '13 (Brockton, MA) groundout to shortstop to cap the game scoring.
For the Monks, Campbell went 3-4 with a run, an RBI and a stolen base, Martin was 2-3 with two runs scored and a double, and Keneborus went 2-3 with a run and an RBI. Pratt drove home a pair and recorded 13 putouts at first base in the triumph.
Monks starting pitcher Mason Roberge improved to 2-1 on the year after allowing one run on one hit and a walk in four innings and Gruntkosky fanned a pair with one run allowed off one hit and two walks in two frames of relief. Devereaux closed out the game with a punch-out and a hit allowed in a scoreless seventh inning.
Lasell starter Matthew Pitts '12 (Stoneham, MA) fell to 2-1 on the season after allowing six runs off 11 hits and a walk in six innings.
With the sweep, Saint Joseph's improves to 5-1 in the history of the series with Lasell College.
St. Joe's will play at Colby College in a non-conference nine-inning contest on Friday at 4:00 PM. Lasell is set to host non-league opponent New England College tomorrow at 7:00 PM.
