STANDISH, Maine – #20/22 Saint Joseph's College (28-6, 11-1 GNAC) swept Norwich University (12-21, 6-6 GNAC) in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) baseball doubleheader at Larry Mahaney Diamond on Friday afternoon. The Monks opened with a 16-0 triumph and blanked the Cadets by a 13-0 score in the nightcap.
GAME ONE – SAINT JOSEPH'S 16, NORWICH 0
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Finishing a game that was originally started, and suspended after one inning due to rain, on April 12th, Saint Joseph's jumped out to a 3-0 lead off five hits in the bottom of the second, as senior shortstop Max McCoomb (South Berwick, Maine) tripled home a pair and scored on a Joey Murphy (Derry, N.H.) single.
The Monks opened up the game in the third, when the hosts plated nine runs off five hits and two errors to assume a 12-0 cushion. McCoomb drove in two, junior center fielder Chris Gerossie (Chester, N.H.) belted a three-run double, and senior designated hitter Jameson Collins (Sandown, N.H.) launched a three-run homer to help propel the Royal Blue to the insurmountable advantage.
ON THE MOUND:
Senior Cejay Suarez (Abington, Mass.) earned the start back on April 12th and tossed a scoreless inning with a walk. Junior Travis Godbout (Portland, Maine) took the hill today and was dominant, allowing four hits with six strikeouts in six innings to improve to 4-1 on the season.
Norwich senior Billy Whaley (Northfield, Vt.), who started the game on April 12th, returned to the mound today and allowed 12 runs off 11 hits and four walks with five punch-outs in three innings. Freshman reliever Nick Landis (South Berwick, Maine) yielded four runs (two earned) off five hits with a strikeout in three frames.
OFF THE BAT – SAINT JOSEPH'S:
- McCoomb was 4-4 with two runs, a triple, and four RBI
- Senior third baseman Taylor Black (Cardiff by the Sea, Calif.) went 4-4 with three runs, a home run, a stolen base, and three RBI
- Collins was 2-5 with two runs, his seventh homer of the year, and three RBI
- Gerossie went 1-3 with two runs, a double, and three RBI
- Murphy added two runs off two hits with two walks and an RBI
OFF THE BAT – NORWICH:
- Sophomore left fielder Kevin Lynch (Randolph, Mass.) went 2-3 with a stolen base
GAME TWO – SAINT JOSEPH'S 13, NORWICH 0:
HOW IT HAPPENED:
As it played out, the Monks provided more than enough run support with seven runs off five hits and five Norwich errors in the bottom of the second, when senior Dennis Meehan (Gardiner, Maine), Gerossie, Black, and Collins registered RBI singles.
St. Joe's employed the long ball to extend the lead to 12-0 in the third, when Meehan led off with a homer and Black launched a ball well beyond the left field wall for a grand slam.
ON THE MOUND:
SJC freshman starter Matt Demma (Worcester, Mass.) improved to 2-0 on the year after scattering four hits with four walks and three K's in five innings. Junior Philip LeVangie (Hanover, Mass.) was dominant in relief, fanning three in two perfect innings.
Norwich freshman starter Casey Lemke (Winter Garden, Fla.) falls to 0-3 after surrendering 12 runs (nine earned) off 10 hits and two walks in three innings. Freshman Scott Svalestad (East Hampton, Conn.) gave up one run off five hits in three frames of relief.
OFF THE BAT – SAINT JOSEPH'S:
- Meehan was 3-3 with two runs, a home run, and two RBI
- Black went 2-3 with a run, a homer, and five RBI
- Murphy was 3-4 with two runs
- Senior first baseman Brett Barbati (Melrose, Mass.) went 2-2 with two runs
- Freshman left fielder Ben Gravel (Rochester, N.H.) was 2-2 with a run scored
OFF THE BAT – NORWICH
- Lynch was 1-1 with two walks and a pair of stolen bases
HISTORICALLY SPEAKING:
With the sweep, Saint Joseph's improves to 20-0 in the history of the series with Norwich University.
NEXT:
Both teams are back in action facing conference opponents tomorrow, when Saint Joseph's travels to Anna Maria College for a doubleheader beginning at 3:00 PM and Norwich hosts Lasell College in a twinbill beginning at 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.
