WATERVILLE, Maine --- Alex Valenti (Lawrence, Mass.) pitched seven strong innings and Joe Coyne (Duxbury, Mass.) had a two-run homer among his three hits to power St. Joseph's College to an 8-2 win over Colby College in non-conference play Wednesday at Coombs Field.
Valenti struck out three, walked one, and allowed two earned runs in moving to 4-0 this season. Meanwhile, Coyne added a pair of singles to go with the home run, scored twice, and drove in three runs.
Sam Butts (Saco, Maine) added two doubles, two runs, and two RBI for St. Joseph's (21-9 overall). Zack Graham (Marlborough, Mass.) also had two doubles and scored twice, while catcher Willie Brown (Fayette, Maine) had a pair of hits, drove in one run, and scored once.
Colby co-captain Jake Kramer (Medfield, Mass.) led his team with two hits and one RBI. Luke Duncklee (Augusta, Maine) also had two hits and scored one run.
St. Joseph's went ahead 1-0 when Butts had a one-out double, moved to third on a wild pitch, and scored on a single by Coyne.
The Mules had a great opportunity to blow the game open early after the first five batters reached in the bottom of the first inning. Duncklee, Nathan Ellis (Milton, Mass.), and Alec Finigan (Milton, Mass.) all singled to load the bases. Tim Corey (Framingham, Mass.) followed with a walk to bring in the first Colby run. Kramer's RBI single brought in Ellis for a 2-0 margin, but the Mules hit into a double play to get two quick outs and Valenti got the third out on a grounder to first.
The Monks put up four runs in the third inning for a 5-2 margin. Brown led off with a single and moved to third on a double Graham. Butts followed with a double to bring in both runners. Coyne singled to put runners on first and second. Mike Pratt (Dartmouth, Mass.) smacked a two-run double for the other runs.
Graham led off the fifth inning with a double, moved to second on a groundout by Butts, and then scored when Coyne launched his first collegiate home run. In the sixth, Brandon Chase (Naples, Maine) led off with a single and eventually scored on a single by Brown.
Corey McNamara (West Newbury, Mass.) pitched the final two innings and had three strikeouts for the Monks.
Ian Bezahler (Woodbridge, Conn.) had a solid three-inning relief stint over the final three innings. He gave up just one hit and allowed no runs.
Saint Joseph's hosts Daniel Webster College in a non-conference nine-inning game on Friday at 4:00 PM. Colby will host Tufts University on Friday at 3:00 PM in the first of three NESCAC games over two days versus the Jumbos.
COURTESY OF COLBY COLLEGE SPORTS INFORMATION
Saint Joseph's College is Maine's only Catholic liberal arts college, providing a supportive, personalized and career-focused education for more than 100 years. From its 350-acre campus on the shores of Sebago Lake, the College offers more than 40 undergraduate programs to a population of approximately 1,000 students. Saint Joseph's College Online provides certificates, undergraduate and advanced degrees for working adults through an online learning program. For more, visit www.sjcme.edu.
