WINTER HAVEN, FL – Saint Joseph's (5-2) toppled New Jersey City University (1-4), 15-1, in a RussMatt Central Florida Invitational contest on Monday morning. Senior outfielder Alex Lorenc (Nanuet, N.Y.) was 2-5 with two runs, a triple and a pair of RBI in the lopsided victory.
Less than 24 hours after being one-hit for the first time in 12 years, the Monks' lineup exploded with 15 runs on 13 hits and five NJCU errors. Eight different players rapped at least one hit, with five notching multiple-hit efforts, in the victory.
After one scoreless frame, Saint Joseph's scored six runs on five hits – all with two out - and a Gothic Knights error to essentially put the game out of reach. Freshman Jameson Collins (Sandown, N.H.) reached via fielder's choice, moved to second on a Taylor Black (Cardiff by the Sea, Calif.) single and scored on a Louie Vigars (Stratham, N.H.) base hit and both Black and Vigars – who moved up to second on a throw home – reached home on a Zack Graham (Marlborough, Mass.) single up the middle, making it a 3-0 game.
Freshman shortstop Max McCoomb (South Berwick, Maine), who reached with a walk, and Graham both scored on a triple by Lorenc, who promptly raced home when the next batter, junior Nic Lops (South Portland, Maine/Cheverus), singled up the middle to account for the six-run second.
New Jersey City mounted what turned out to be their only offense of the day with a run in the top of the third, when Dmitri Rueger (Teaneck, N.J.) singled and scored on an Alex Weinstein (Colonia, N.J.) base hit.
The Monks managed to plate single runs in the fifth and sixth innings and scored three times off four hits in the seventh to secure an 11-1 cushion. Lorenc registered an RBI single and Lops knocked home a pair with double during the three-run seventh.
St. Joe's closed out the contest by scoring four runs without a hit or an NJCU error in the bottom of the eighth.
For the Monks, McCoomb was 2-2 with three runs, a double and an RBI and also walked three times, Lops went 2-5 with a double and three RBI, Collins scored three runs, Black added two hits and a run in four plate appearances and Vigars was 2-3 with a pair of runs and an RBI in the triumph.
Senior Nick Whittaker (Yarmouth, Maine) picked up the victory after allowing a run off four hits and four walks with eight strikeouts over seven innings. Senior Chris Bryant (Gray, Maine) allowed one hit in a scoreless eighth inning in relief.
Junior starter Kevin DeMauro (Kearney, N.J.) took the loss and surrendered eight runs (seven earned) off eight hits and three free passes with a pair of K's in five innings for the Gothic Knights.
With the victory, Saint Joseph's improves to 10-2 in the history of the series with New Jersey City University.
The Monks return to action tomorrow with a single nine-inning game versus Westfield State University at 1:00 PM.
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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 430-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.
