CAPE CORAL, FL – Saint Joseph’s (4-2) played in a pair of close contests on Thursday, losing the opener to Fredonia State by a 2-0 score and edging the Engineers of WPI, 1-0, in the nightcap. Pitching was the name of the game, as the St. Joe’s pitchers allowed just seven hits and the SJC offense was held to just five hits on the day.
Christy Wezowicz ’10 (Granville, MA) was the hard-luck loser against Fredonia, as the senior hurler allowed just two hits and two earned runs with five K’s in six innings against the Blue Devils. Madylan Kluna ’12 (Standish, ME) tossed a complete-game shutout with nine strikeouts and five hits allowed against WPI to keep the Monks above .500.
GAME ONE
The Blue Devils recorded the only offense they would need in the fourth inning, as Michelle Lattner (Cheektowaga, NY) hit a ball to the right-center gap and legged out a double, as her hard slide into the bag dislodged the ball upon the tag. Becca Zimmerman (Jamestown, NY) traded places with Lattner after hitting a hard shot past SJC shortstop Liddy van der Linden ’10 (Worcester, MA) and hustling into second. Hannah Vesneske (Hamburg, NY) plated Zimmerman with a single to cap the inning, and game, scoring.
van der Linden and Samantha Gray ’12 (Yarmouth, ME) recorded the Monks’ two hits in the losing effort.
Jennifer Tighe (Hamburg, NY) and Lattner combined to pitch the two-hit shutout for the Blue Devils, as Tighe earned the win and Lattner recorded the save.
GAME TWO
Saint Joseph’s scored the day’s only run with two out in the third inning against WPI, and it proved to be enough to nip the Engineers. Anna Willis ’10 (Gorham, ME) singled, stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error by WPI catcher Erin Beaulieu '13 (Bethany, CT) before scoring on an Emily Leverone ’12 (Hampton, NH) base hit.
Also recording a hit for St. Joe’s was Alyssa Dunn ’11 (Standish, ME), who singled in the second inning.
The Monks will continue their southern swing with a 9:00 AM game against Rockford and an 11:00 AM start against Polytechnic (NY).
