WEST HAVEN, CT – Saint Joseph's (18-9, 7-1 GNAC) swept a conference twinbill with Albertus Magnus College (5-16, 2-4 GNAC) on Thursday afternoon. Sophomore first baseman Mike Pratt (Dartmouth, MA) had three hits, three RBI and a pair of doubles in the two victories.
GAME ONE
The Monks scored three runs off two hits in the first inning but required extra innings to dispose of the Falcons in the opener.
The SJC bats fell silent after the first frame, however, as Falcons starting pitcher Matthew Finkenzeller '13 (Wolcott, CT) settled in and allowed just one hit over the following five innings.
Monks starter Tyler Laverriere '13 (Biddeford, ME) was on cruise control until the fifth inning when AMC shortstop Robert Bengivengo '11 (Oxford, CT) belted a two-out grand slam home run over the left field fence to lift his team to a 4-3 edge.
Saint Joseph's managed to tie the game with two out in the top of the seventh. Center fielder Nate Martin '13 (Chebeague Island, ME) slapped an infield single, swiped second base, and scored on a sharply-hit single to right off the bat of left fielder Sam Butts '13 (Saco, ME).
Monks senior infielder Chris Campbell (Rochester, NH) led off the top of the eighth with a line-drive single through the right side, moved to second when classmate Todd Keneborus (Hollis Center, ME/Cheverus) was hit by a pitch for the second time in the game, and advanced to third on a Pratt sac fly to center. With two out and runners on the corners, Campbell managed to score the game-winning run on a perfectly-executed double-steal play.
For the Monks, shortstop Dan Achorn '12 (Bow, NH) went 2-4 with a run and a double, Pratt drove in two runs, and Campbell scored twice. Laverriere did not factor into the decision after fanning five with four runs allowed off four hits in six innings. Reliever Andrew Devereaux '12 (Hope Valley, RI) improved to 3-1 on the year with two innings of scoreless work.
For the Falcons, first baseman Jesse Castaldi '14 (North Branford, CT) went 3-4 with a run and a double. Finkenzeller fell to 1-2 on the year with the loss with five runs (three earned) allowed off six hits.
GAME TWO
The nightcap was scoreless until the third inning when the Falcons struck first by scoring three runs off three hits and an SJC miscue. Catcher Malcolm Mendez '12 (New York City, NY) knocked home a pair with a two-out double to put his team up by three.
Falcons starter Christopher Rivera '14 (New Britain, CT) carried a no-hitter until Monks designated hitter Alex Lorenc '14 (Nanuet, NY) jacked a 0-1 fastball over the left field fence to cancel the hitless, and shutout, bid by the first-year hurler. The solo blast was the first round-tripper of Lorenc's college career.
The rookie's homer seemed to spark the Monks, as the Royal Blue proceeded to score four runs off five hits in the top of the fifth. The surge began with infield hits by Martin and Butts and both players moved up a bag with an Ian Lee '11 (Hampden, ME) sac bunt. The next batter, Achorn, flew out to right-center, but Campbell came up with a clutch game-tying two-run single to right and scored the go-ahead run when Keneborus doubled to right field. Pratt drove in Keneborus with a single to make it a 5-3 game.
The Monks went on to score single runs in the sixth and seventh to close out the contest with a 7-3 score. In the top of the sixth, Lee was hit by a pitch, moved all the way to third on a hit and run play executed with a single through the right side by Achorn, and scored on a Keneborus sac fly to center. Pinch-hitter Alex Markakis '14 (Lynnfield, MA) plated Butts, who reached via base on balls, with a single in the seventh.
For the Monks, Pratt went 2-4 with a double and an RBI while Campbell and Keneborus drove in two runs apiece. Butts went 1-3 with two runs and a pair of stolen bases.
SJC pitcher Chris Dion, making his first start on the hill since his freshman season and second in his career overall, improved to 1-1 on the season after striking out a pair and allowing three runs (one earned) off four hits in four innings. Kyle Neagle '12 (Lisbon Falls, ME) collected the first save of his career and fanned five in three innings.
Falcons center fielder Robert Gambardella '13 (North Haven, CT) went 2-4 with a run and an RBI in the loss. Rivera fell to 0-3 on the year after allowing five runs off six hits in 4.2 innings while relievers Cullen Burnell '12 (Litchfield, CT) and Adam Platner '11 (Northford, CT) combined to yield two runs off three hits, four walks and two hit batsmen in 2.1 frames.
With the sweep, St. Joe's improves to 10-1 in the history of the series with Albertus Magnus College. The Monks have now defeated the Falcons in eight consecutive meetings.
Saint Joseph's will host GNAC-rival Suffolk University in a doubleheader on Saturday at 12:00 PM.
