WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – University of Saint Joseph (10-11-1, 3-3 GNAC) defeated Saint Joseph's College (4-13, 1-3 GNAC), 11-5, in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) baseball action on Sunday afternoon.
The Monks held a 2-0 lead going into the bottom of the fifth when USJ catcher Chase Belisle cut the SJC lead in half with a solo homer. The wheels fell off the bus in the bottom of the sixth, when the Blue Jays scored eight runs on six hits and four St. Joe's errors.
The Monks managed to get three runs back in the top of the seventh when USJ reliever Kaden Murphy gifted the Royal Blue three balks with the bases loaded, making it a 9-5 game.
The Blue Jays capped the game scoring with two runs on one hit and another SJC error in the bottom of the eighth.
Grad starting pitcher Matthew Bergeron (Salem, N.H.) suffered the loss despite allowing only three earned runs (nine total) off nine hits with five strikeouts in 5.1 innings. USJ starter Chase Swain improved to 3-3 on the season after yielding five runs (four earned) on seven hits and three walks with six K's in 6.1 innings.
Freshman Vinny O'Leary (North Quincy, Mass.) was 2-5 with two runs, sophomore Jared Wilhelm (Tolland, Conn.) went 2-4, and sophomore Dylan Brander (Merrimack, N.H.) added two hits in four at-bats.
Saint Joseph's is scheduled to play at Elms College on Tuesday at 3:30 PM.
