STANDISH, ME – Bates College (6-8) topped Saint Joseph's College (8-6), 3-1, in the Monks' 2014 home opener at Larry Mahaney Diamond on Thursday afternoon. Trailing 1-0 through five frames, the Bobcats rallied with three runs in the sixth and seventh innings combined to claim the non-conference victory.
Saint Joseph's opened the scoring in the bottom of the second when senior right fielder Alex Lorenc (Nanuet, N.Y.) reached on a fielder's choice and later scored on an Alex Markakis (Lynnfield, Mass.) infield hit.
The Bobcats tied the non-conference contest when senior designated hitter Griff Tewksbury (Concord, N.H.) led off with a single and crossed the plate on a groundout to first in the top of the sixth. Tewksbury would have cancelled out on a double play ball hit by Kevin Davis (North Andover, Mass.), but a grounder to second took an unfortunate bounce and both players were safe, as SJC freshman second baseman Taylor Black (Cardiff by the Sea, Calif.) was charged with an error on a play that truly was no fault of his own.
Bates went on to plate a pair of runs off two hits in the seventh. Facing freshman reliever Tyler Neville (Orono, Maine), who had just entered the game, sophomore second baseman Conor Reenstierna (Lincoln, Mass.) worked a walk on five pitches, moved to second on a fielder's choice and reached third on a double play before scoring the go-ahead run on a Tewksbury single up the middle. Tewksbury moved up to second on a passed ball and scored the Bobcats' third run when the following batter, Davis, drove a double to the warning track in left-center.
The Monks threatened in the bottom of the ninth, as Markakis and freshman Brett Barbati (Melrose, Mass.) drew walks and senior center fielder Louie Vigars (Stratham, N.H.) was hit by pitch to load the bases for freshman shortstop Max McCoomb (South Berwick, Maine) with two out. Bates Head Coach Mike Leonard went to his bullpen, tabbing Rob DiFranco (Melrose, Mass.) to replace Samuel Warren (Norfolk, Va.) on the hill and the sophomore righthander closed out the game – and earned a quick save - by fanning McCoomb on three pitches.
The Monks, playing in their first game in 12 days, did not feature a repeat-hitter as junior first baseman Nic Lops (South Portland, Maine/Cheverus) logged the hosts' only extra base hit with a double in the bottom of the sixth.
Saint Joseph's used six different hurlers in the loss, with junior Alex Valenti (Lawrence, Mass.) getting the start with a pair of K's in a perfect first inning. Senior Nick Whittaker (Yarmouth, Maine) tossed a scoreless second, freshman southpaw Thomas Fortier (Falmouth, Maine) scattered three hits with two strikeouts in three innings and freshman Nick Malatesta (Wrentham, Mass.) surrendered one run off one hit and a walk in one inning of relief. Neville took the loss after giving up two runs off two hits and a walk in 0.2 innings and sophomore slinger Riley Cox (Westford, Mass.) was effective in relief, walking one with three punch-outs in 2.1 innings of work.
For the Bobcats, junior Rockwell Jackson (Fort Worth, Texas) was 2-5 and Tewksbury went 2-5 with two runs and an RBI in the victory.
Bates also employed the "Charlie Whole-Staff" approach and utilized six pitchers on the afternoon. Freshman Anthony Telesca (Holtsville, N.Y.) earned the start and allowed an unearned run off two hits with a pair of K's in three innings. Chris Ward (Pasadena, Calif.), Connor Colombo (Mendon, Mass.) – who claimed the win, Mark Cunningham (Canton, Mass.), Warren and DiFranco combined to toss six innings of three-hit ball.
Saint Joseph's returns to action on Saturday with a doubleheader versus conference foe Rivier University, with first pitch in the opener set for 2:00 PM. Bates faces Bowdoin College - in the first of three NESCAC contests over the weekend - tomorrow in a game to be played at SMCC at 3:00 PM.
Follow Saint Joseph's Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube!
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.
