STANDISH, Maine – Top-seeded Saint Joseph's College (23-12, 12-2 GNAC) toppled #4 Johnson & Wales University (24-15, 7-7 GNAC), 8-1, in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Tournament Quarterfinal contest at Larry Mahaney Diamond on Friday afternoon.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Johnson & Wales found the board first as the visitors plated a run with two out in the top of the second when junior right fielder Carlos Sanabria (Pawtucket, R.I.) walked and scored on a Jordan Pilarski (Garnet Valley, Pa.) double to right-center.
Saint Joseph's immediately evened the score with a run in the bottom of the second, when senior left fielder Taylor Reuillard (Biddeford, Maine) reached on a free pass, stole second, moved to third on a wild pitch, and scored on an Anthony DiPrizio (Rochester, N.H.) single to left.
The 1-1 deadlock remained until the bottom of the fifth when the Monks scored four runs on four hits and a JWU error to secure a 5-1 cushion. Senior catcher Nic Lops (South Portland, Maine/Cheverus) knocked in a run with a single while junior right fielder Dennis Meehan (Gardiner, Maine) and Reuillard were credited with an RBI apiece after walking and being hit by a pitch, respectively, with the bases loaded.
St. Joe's capped the game scoring in their next turn by plating three off three hits and another JWU miscue. Junior designated hitter Jameson Collins (Sandown, N.H.) and Meehan delivered runs with singles and freshman second baseman Joey Murphy (Derry, N.H.), who reached via hit by pitch, sprinted home on a wild pitch to make it an 8-1 game through six frames.
The Wildcats' comeback attempts were thwarted in the seventh and eighth innings, as base hits early in both frames were erased with double play balls.
WHAT'S NEXT?
With the victory, Saint Joseph's moves on to face #2 Suffolk University in a GNAC Tournament Semifinal matchup at Johnson & Wales – where the remainder of the tournament will be played – tomorrow afternoon. First pitch is scheduled for 1:30 PM.
With the loss, Johnson & Wales falls into the elimination portion of the GNAC bracket and will take on #3 Lasell College, which suffered a 7-4 defeat at the hands of Suffolk last night, tomorrow in a win-or-go-home contest at Johnson & Wales. First pitch is set for 10:00 AM.
SJC HIGHLIGHTS
- DiPrizio went 2-4 with a run, a double, a stolen base, and an RBI
- Lops was 2-5 with two runs and an RBI
- Junior third baseman Taylor Black (Cardiff by the Sea, Calif.) reached base four times in five plate appearances and was 2-3 with two runs
JWU HIGHLIGHTS
- Pilarski went 2-3 with a double and an RBI and was the lone repeat hitter for the Wildcats
- Sanabria was 1-3 with a run and a walk
PITCHERS OF RECORD
- Partridge picked up his fifth win of the season after allowing a run off six hits with two strikeouts in eight masterful innings
- SJC sophomore Philip LeVangie (Hanover, Mass.) fanned one and allowed an infield hit in an otherwise clean ninth inning
- JWU sophomore starter Keith Grant (East Providence, R.I.) suffered the loss after giving up five runs (three earned) off four hits, three walks, and two hit batsmen with three K's in 4.1 innings
- JWU reliever Nick Cesino (Scituate, R.I.) allowed three runs (one earned) off three hits in one inning of work
- JWU sophomore Nick Cipriani (Portsmouth, R.I.) tossed 2/3 inning of perfect relief
- JWU freshman hurler Kevin Manning (Portsmouth, R.I.) closed out the contest with two innings of two-hit relief
NOTEWORTHY
Partridge – who tossed 94 pitches with 70 strikes this afternoon - has now won three consecutive starts and allowed one earned run over his last 18 innings…junior shortstop Max McCoomb (South Berwick, Maine) made several fantastic defensive plays in the victory…junior first baseman Brett Barbati (Melrose, Mass.) was inches away from belting his first home run of the season in the bottom of the seventh when he drilled a line drive off the left field wall and was held to a 'wall-ball' single.
#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.
