AUBURNDALE, FL – Saint Joseph's College (6-2) posted a convincing 18-4 victory over Westfield State University (3-2) in the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational on Tuesday afternoon. Junior catcher Joe Coyne (Duxbury, Mass.) went 4-4 with two runs, a double, a home run and three RBI in the triumph.

Saint Joseph's held a 5-4 edge after five frames but broke the game open with six runs off four hits and a Westfield State error in the bottom of the sixth. The Monks proceeded to tack on seven runs in the seventh, taking advantage of four hits and a trio of Owls' miscues to account for the 18-4 final.

For the Monks, junior first baseman Nic Lops (South Portland, Maine/Cheverus) was 3-5 with two runs, a pair of doubles and a career-high five RBI, senior center fielder Louie Vigars (Stratham, N.H.) went 3-4 with two runs and a pair of RBI, freshman Taylor Black (Cardiff by the Sea, Calif.) reached base five times and was 3-4 with three runs and an RBI and freshman shortstop Max McCoomb (South Berwick, Maine) added two hits in with a pair of runs in four trips to the plate in the victory.

Junior Dan Meeken (Marshfield, Mass.) picked up his second win of the season after allowing a hit and a walk with three K's over two innings of relief. Senior Joe Gruntkosky (Peabody, Mass.) allowed four runs off six hits with a pair of punch-outs in four innings while freshman Tyler Neville (Orono, Maine), sophomore Riley Cox (Westford, Mass.) and sophomore Corey McNamara (West Newbury, Mass.) tossed scoreless innings in relief.

Junior starter Garrett Briggs (Foxboro, Mass.) takes the loss after giving up five runs off six hits in three innings for Westfield State.

With the victory, Saint Joseph's improves to 2-0 in the history of the series with Westfield State University.

Following a day off tomorrow, the Monks return to action on Thursday with a single nine-inning game versus Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (NY), a contest that begins at 5:00 PM on Field #4 at the Lake Myrtle Complex.

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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.