BANGOR, Maine – Saint Joseph's College (7-7) defeated Husson University (6-7), 5-2, in a non-conference baseball contest on Thursday afternoon.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Eagles struck first with two runs off four hits in the bottom of the first, as the hosts opened with three consecutive singles and doubled the lead with a two-out base knock.
The Monks chipped away at the deficit with a run in the third, when freshman center fielder Jared Gagne (Dover, N.H.) led off with a double and later scored on a Joey Murphy (Derry, N.H.) sacrifice fly.
The 2-1 score held true until the sixth, when Saint Joseph's took the lead for good with two runs off three hits. Murphy opened the frame with a single and later scored the tying run on a Nic Lops (South Portland, Maine/Cheverus) single. Senior left fielder Taylor Reuillard (Biddeford, Maine) singled and came around to score the go-ahead run on a Brett Barbati (Melrose, Mass.) sac fly to right field.
For good measure, the Monks tacked on two runs off two hits in the top of the seventh, as Murphy posted an RBI single and later scored on a Reuillard knock up the middle, accounting for the 5-2 final.
PITCHER OF RECORD
Sophomore starter Josh Partridge (Deerfield, N.H.) improved to 2-0 on the season after allowing two runs off eight hits with a career-high 11 strikeouts over seven innings. Freshman Grayson Jennings (Bedford, N.H.) walked one and fanned a batter in a scoreless frame of relief and senior closer Corey McNamara (West Newbury, Mass.) earned his second save of the season after giving up two hits with a strikeout in a scoreless ninth.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Reuillard went 3-4 with a run and an RBI
- Murphy was 2-4 with two runs and a pair of RBI
- Barbati posted a pair of doubles with an RBI in three at-bats
- Lops went 2-4 with an RBI
- Gagne scored twice and was 1-3 with a double and a walk
HISTORICALLY SPEAKING
With the victory, Saint Joseph's improves to 62-36 in the history of the matchup with Husson University, a team that had defeated the Monks in three-consecutive meetings – for the first time in series history – prior to this afternoon. Last season, St. Joe's suffered a pair of one-run losses at the hands of the Eagles.
NEXT!
Saint Joseph's returns to action Sunday with a non-conference doubleheader at home versus Roger Williams University. First pitch is slated for 1:00 PM.
#GOMONKS
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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 474-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.
