STANDISH, ME – Top-seeded Saint Joseph's (27-11, 12-2 GNAC) scored nine runs in the bottom of the eighth to erase a five-run deficit and defeat #4 Lasell College (21-14, 8-6 GNAC), 13-9, in a GNAC Baseball Quarterfinal contest at Larry Mahaney Diamond on Thursday afternoon. Monks senior infielder Chris Campbell (Rochester, NH) tied a program record with five hits and hit his first NCAA home run in the remarkable victory.

The Lasers led 9-4 after scoring five runs off four hits in the top of the eighth but the resilient Monks methodically chipped away at their debt and eventually gained the lead with a tremendous offensive effort in the bottom of the frame. The SJC hit parade included two doubles and a pair of home runs.

Senior catcher Ian Lee (Hampden, ME) started the comeback effort with an RBI double and designated hitter Alex Lorenc '14 (Nanuet, NY) followed with a two-run jack over the left-center wall to make it a 9-7 game. Sophomore left fielder Sam Butts (Saco, ME) tied the game with a two-out, two-run single and senior right fielder Todd Keneborus (Hollis Center, ME/Cheverus) followed with a two-run double to lift the hosts to an 11-9 lead. The following batter, sophomore first baseman Mike Pratt (Dartmouth, MA) provided the Royal Blue with a pair of insurance runs when launched a line-drive, two-run blast over the left field fence.

For the Monks, Campbell went 5-5 with two runs and a solo blast, Butts was 2-4 with three runs and three RBI and Keneborus had two hits in four trips with two runs, a double and three RBI. Pratt added two hits in five at bats with a run and three RBI and Lorenc went 2-4 with the aforementioned two-run shot.

SJC starting pitcher Kevin Chamberlain '11 (Scarborough, ME) allowed four runs off 10 hits and two walks in 6.1 innings and did not factor in the decision. Andrew Devereaux '12 (Hope Valley, RI), now 5-1 on the year, collected the victory after yielding three runs off three hits and a walk in one inning of relief and Tyler Laverriere '13 (Biddeford, ME) tossed a scoreless ninth with a pair of strikeouts to close out the contest.

For the Lasers, Conor Cavanagh '11 (Quincy, MA) was 5-5 with three runs, two doubles, a home run and four RBI while Billy Uberti '13 (Middletown, CT), Carlton Lentini '12 (Wilmington, MA) and Andrew Pompeo '14 (Hingham, MA) registered two hits apiece in a losing effort.

Lasell starter Josh Sullivan '12 (Rockland, MA) did not factor in the game decision after allowing four runs (three earned) off nine hits and a walk in 6.1 frames. Matt Pitts '12 (Stoneham, MA) gave up four runs off two hits and a pair of walks and Mike Rodriguez '13 (Brockton, MA), now 4-3 on the season, was hit with the loss after allowing four runs off three hits and a free pass in 1/3 inning of relief.

The game started off quite well for the Monks, as Chamberlain induced a trio of harmless outs in the top of the inning and the SJC sticks plated a pair of runs in the bottom to provide the Royal Blue with an early 2-0 advantage. Campbell, not known to be a power hitter, sent Sullivan's first pitch of the game out of the park on a line and Butts, who singled on the righty's next offering, later crossed the plate on a Pratt groundout.

The Lasers proceeded to knot the game with a pair of runs off five hits, all singles, in the top of the third. Keneborus plated Butts with a base hit in the bottom of the frame to produce the 3-3 stalemate, but Lasell countered with a Cavanagh solo blast in the top of the fifth to put the visitors on top, 4-3.

Freshman third baseman Alex Markakis (Lynnfield, MA) led off the bottom of the seventh with a line-drive single to left and scampered home four batters later when Butts lofted a sacrifice fly to right, tying the game at four-apiece.

Lasell gained all the momentum with a five-spot in the bottom of the eighth. Lentini led off the inning with a single to center, advanced to third on a botched bunt play, and scored the go-ahead run on a passed ball. Jacob Salkovitz '13 (Brockton, MA) hit a ball that appeared to go off his foot, but the play was ruled a hit as Mike Mahoney '12 (Rockland, MA) scored to make it a 6-4 game.

The bleeding continued as the next batter, Uberti, hit a ball to left-center – just beyond the reach diving center fielder Nate Martin '13 (Chebeague Island, ME) – for a double to send Salkovitz across the plate. Cavanagh capped the five-run inning with a two-run double down the right field line to extend the Lasell lead to 9-4.

The Monks' remarkable nine-run rally is even more impressive considering six of the runs came with two outs. Campbell, Butts, Keneborus and Pratt all produced clutch two-out hits to help Saint Joseph's remain in the winners' bracket of the conference tournament.

With the win, St. Joe's improves to 6-1 in the history of the series with Lasell College. The Monks turned a season-high three double plays in the victory.

Saint Joseph's will face the winner of the other quarterfinal tilt, featuring #3 Suffolk and #2 Johnson & Wales winner on at Mahaney Diamond on Saturday at 1:00 PM. The Rams and Wildcats were set to play today, but the game was rained out and will be played on Friday.

Lasell College will take on the loser of the Suffolk/JWU quarterfinal at Mahaney Diamond on Saturday at 10:00 AM.