FORT MYERS, FL – Saint Joseph's College (3-3) won both games on Thursday, slipping by Stevens Institute of Technology by a tally of 4-2 followed by a convincing 9-0 shutout win over Mount Saint Mary (N.Y.).
GAME ONE
The Monks scored single runs in the second, third, and fourth innings to take a 3-0 advantage into the top of the fifth. Stevens Institute of Technology (4-4) cut the game to 3-2 with a pair of runs in the fifth. The Monks added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth to cap off the day's scoring and held off a Stevens Institute rally in the top of the seventh to hang on for the 4-2 victory.
Sophomore hurler Rae-Marie Copan (Newton, Mass.) notched her first win of the season (1-1) with six-plus innings of work. Copan allowed two runs (both earned) on seven hits while walking one and striking out one. Sophomore left fielder/pitcher Theresa Hendrix (Scarborough, Maine) worked a perfect inning of relief, striking out two, and earning her first career save in her first career appearance on the mound.
The Ducks had two pitchers split the game, going three innings a piece. Kayla Berardi started on the bump and allowed three runs (all earned) on three hits. Berardi served up five free passes while punching out five, earning the loss. Briana Sandone finished up the game not walking, nor striking out a batter. Sandone gave up just two hits and one earned run in relief.
The Monks held a 4-2 lead going into the game's final frame. Copan was still dealing on the hill and Briana Sandone was at the plate. Sandone reached first base on an error and then advanced to second on a single by shortstop Danielle DeFeo, placing runners on first and second with nobody out. That spelled the end of the day for Copan, who gave way to Hendrix. The first batter Hendrix faced, Jamie DeGennaro, popped out to Hendrix. Then Hendrix uncorked a wild pitch to advance the runners to second and third with just one out. It was quite a jam, but Hendrix was unfazed by the dilemma as she struck out the next batter, plunked the following hitter, and then got a strikeout to end the game.
Senior Maddie Kluna (Standish, Maine) led the Monks at the dish going 2-2 with a pair of runs batted in.
Jamie DeGennaro was the leading hitter for the Ducks with a 2-4 day, knocking in a run.
GAME TWO
Saint Joseph's College got all the runs they would need in this game in the top of the first when junior right fielder Danyelle Shufelt (Sutton, Vt.) crossed the plate on junior first baseman Heather Tripp's (Lovell, Maine) RBI fielder's choice. The Monks would add three runs in the fourth and five runs in the seventh to cap off the 9-0 victory over the Mount Saint Mary College Knights.
Kluna (1-2) returned to form for the Monks as she dominated the Knights over seven innings to earn her first win and shutout of the season. Kluna scattered five hits over the seven frames, walking just one batter while striking out ten.
Amanda Barrese took the ball for the Knights. Barrese also went the distance; however, she did not have the same success as Kluna. Over the seven innings of work, Barrese gave up twelve hits, nine earned runs, zero walks, and two strikeouts.
The Monks took a 1-0 lead into the fourth but that changed when sophomore shortstop Lindsay Moore (Barrington, N.H.) stepped up with runners on first and second, nobody out, and laced an RBI double. Senior catcher Maria Labbe (Lewiston, Maine) hit a two-out, two-run single to put St. Joe's up 4-0.
The Monks bats went silent again until the top of the last inning when Hendrix led off the frame with a triple. After a foul out, hit by pitch, and infield single, sophomore second baseman Connie Grovo (Limington, Maine) hit a run-scoring single. Bases still loaded, senior centerfielder Emily Leverone (Hampton, N.H.) cleared the bases with a double to centerfield. Leverone would come around to score on a wild pitch to conclude the scoring for the game.
Leverone had a terrific day at the plate for the Monks going 4-4 with a pair of doubles, scoring two runs and knocking in three. Shufelt went 2-4 with a couple runs scored and Labbe went 1-3 with two runs batted in.
Ashley Schirripa was the lone bright spot for the Knights with two hits, one being a double.
The Monks will look to build on their three-game winning streak tomorrow as they play their final two games on this spring trip in the Gene Cusic Classic. Game one will be against MCLA at 9 a.m. and the last game will be at 11 a.m. against Ohio Wesleyan.
