BOSTON, MA – The Saint Joseph’s College Softball team improved to 13-5 overall and 8-0 in Great Northeast Athletic Conference play with a pair of victories over GNAC opponent Suffolk University (2-18, 2-6 GNAC) on Sunday afternoon. The Monks, who defeated the Rams 2-1 in today’s opener and prevailed, 8-0, in the nightcap contest, have now won nine straight, including eight consecutive GNAC games.
Monks’ starter Kiera Walsh (Benton, Me.) retired the first 15 batters she faced, only allowing three hits in the opening game. Her pitching counterpart, sophomore Carissa Roche (Swamspcott, Mass.), pitched well, scattering 11 hits through seven innings of work and only allowing one earned run despite suffering the loss.
Freshman Jacky Swift (Cranston, R.I.) broke up Walsh’s no-hit bid with a single to lead off the sixth. Senior Erin O’Donnell (Gront, Mass.) singled later in the inning, but the Rams were unable to put home any runs in the inning, squandering their scoring opportunity.
The Monks got on the board in the fourth when junior Ellen Neff (Chester, Vt.) drove in the first run of the game with a single. St. Joe’s would add a run later in the game off the bat of senior Anna Willis (Sutton, Vt.) who drove in sophomore Katelyn Call (Portland, Me.).
The Rams got their only run of the game when freshman Clara Conklin (Haverhill, N.H.) hit her team-leading sixth home run of the year with one out in the seventh.
In game two, the Monks scored four times in the fifth inning to take an 8-0 victory for the sweep.
Junior Emily Leverone (Hampton, N.H.) finished the game 3-for-3, while the Monks knocked out 10 hits as a team.
Sophomore Madylan Kluna (Standish, Me.) only allowed one hit on the mound for the Monks while striking out three.
Senior Valerie Liberatore (Chelsea, Mass.) had Suffolk’s lone hit of the day.
The Monks jumped out early sending eight hitters to the plate in the first scoring three times on three hits, two hit batters and an error.
Junior Alyssa Dunn (Standish, Me.) finished the game 1-for-3, with three RBI, including a two-run double in the fifth, which helped propel the Monks big inning.
St. Joe's will host Norwich University in a GNAC doubleheader on Friday at 3:30 PM.
COURTESTY OF SUFFOLK SPORTS INFORMATION
