BOSTON, MA – Saint Joseph's (27-5, 20-2 GNAC) split with Simmons College (21-12, 17-5 GNAC) in a conference twinbill on Thursday afternoon. After dropping the first game 11-2, the Sharks came from behind to hand the Monks their first loss since March 30th, ending their 18-game win streak.
In the first game, Saint Joseph's took an early lead when Danyelle Shufelt (Sutton, Vt.) doubled to left center and then scored off a single by Emily Leverone (Hampton, N.H.). The Monks increased their lead to three in the top of the fourth off a Maddie Kluna (Standish, Maine) triple to score Theresa Hendrix (Scarborough, Maine/Cheverus) and Lindsay Moore (Barrington, N.H.). Leverone hit a solo home run in the top of the fifth and Moore doubled to right center to score Caitlin Schrum (Littleton, N.H.) for a five run lead.
The Sharks had hits from Alaina DeNoncour (Johnston, R.I.) and Christina Mulcahy (Cambridge, Mass.) in the bottom of the fifth but the Monks defense ended the inning with both runners left on base.
The Monks added four runs in the sixth but the Sharks scored twice in the bottom of the inning to avoid the eight run mercy rule. Katie McCarthy (Falmouth, Maine) reached first after being hit by a pitch and Emily Cunningham (Cotuit, Mass.) tripled to give the Sharks their first run of the game. Gould singled up the middle to score Cunningham and the Sharks stayed alive to the seventh inning but the Monks took the win, 11-2.
Hendrix allowed two runs off four hits and a walk while fanning eight in seven frames and was credited with the win while Sharks pitcher Lauren Backhaus (Windsor, Conn.), who yielded five runs off seven hits in five frames, took the loss.
The second game began in similar fashion, with the Monks scoring four quick runs in the first inning. Shufelt singled up the middle and Connie Grovo (Limington, Maine) followed suit with a bunt. Leverone singled to left field to move the runners before Heather Tripp (Lovell, Maine) singled to center field to score Shufelt and Grovo. Kluna singled to center field to score two more runners before the Sharks picked up their third out to end the Monks' scoring.
Simmons scored their first run in the bottom of the third when Hannah Cunningham (Cotuit, Mass.) reached on an error by the first baseman and scored when E. Cunningham reached on a similar error.
After a scoreless fourth, the Sharks cut the Monks lead to one when McCarthy tripled to centerfield to score H. Cunningham. E. Cunningham then reached on an error to score McCarthy, which tied the game at four.
With a scoreless sixth and top of the seventh, the game seemed destined for extra play.
In the bottom of the seventh, H. Cunningham singled to left field to give the Sharks the winning run on base. McCarthy reached on a fielder's choice before the Monks intentionally walked E. Cunningham. With McCarthy on second, Amanda Gould hit a line-drive single down the right field line to send McCarthy home for the victory, 5-4. The win ended the Monks' 18-game win streak and marks the first time that the Sharks have defeated the Monks since 2009.
Freshman Amanda Cordiero (Fall River, Mass.) picked up her ninth win of the season after giving up four runs off eight hits while Rae-Marie Copan (Newton, Mass.), who surrendered five runs (two earned) off six hits and a walk with three K's, took the loss.
Saint Joseph's hosts a pair of conference doubleheaders this weekend, as Saint Joseph (Conn.) comes to town for a 1:00 PM twinbill on Saturday and the Monks take on Norwich on Sunday in a 1:00 PM start. Simmons returns to the field tomorrow afternoon when they host Pine Manor College for a doubleheader beginning at 3:00 PM.
COURTESY OF SIMMONS COLLEGE SPORTS INFORMATION
