STANDISH, Maine – Saint Joseph's College (5-9, 2-2 GNAC) swept a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) doubleheader versus Rivier University (6-8, 0-2 GNAC) at Richard W. Bailey Field on Saturday afternoon. The Monks opened with a 10-4 triumph and completed the sweep with a mercy-rule 12-4 victory.
GAME ONE – SAINT JOSEPH'S 10, RIVIER 4
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Saint Joseph's scored at least one run in each of the first five innings, including four in the fifth, as each of the first five Monks' hitters tallied at least two hits to help the hosts win their 2017 home-opener.
ON THE MOUND:
Saint Joseph's senior starter Kylie McFadden (Dover, N.H.) improved to 3-3 on the year after allowing four runs off nine hits and two walks with a pair of punch-outs in a complete-game effort.
Rivier starter Courtney Trahan falls to 1-2 on the season after giving up 10 runs on 14 hits and two walks with three strikeouts in 4.2 innings. Kendall Stanton tossed 1.1 innings of one-hit relief.
OFF THE BAT – SAINT JOSEPH'S:
- Senior center fielder Carla Tripp (Lovell, Maine) was 3-4 with four runs
- Freshman second baseman Libby Pomerleau (Saco, Maine) went 2-3 with three runs, a double, and an RBI
- Sophomore first baseman Melodie Bailey (Lebanon, Maine) added two hits and three RBI in three at-bats
- Sophomore shortstop Meghan Elliott (Blackstone, Mass.) was 2-4 with a pair of RBI
- Senior third baseman Mariah Harrison (Buxton, Maine) went 2-4 with a run scored
- Freshman left fielder Kaylee Burns (Saco, Maine) was 1-4 with two RBI
OFF THE BAT – RIVIER:
- First baseman Jessica Cote went 2-4 with a double and two RBI
- Designated player Taylor Rowsell was 2-3 with a run scored
GAME TWO – SAINT JOSEPH'S 12, RIVIER 4 (5 INNINGS)
HOW IT HAPPENED:
The SJC bats remained hot and kicked off the nightcap with five runs off seven hits in the bottom of the first. After plating a run in the second, the Monks tacked on five in the third to secure an 11-0 cushion and, after allowing four runs in the top of the fifth, proceeded to score the mercy-rule clincher on a wild pitch in the bottom of the frame.
ON THE MOUND:
Saint Joseph's sophomore starter Kristal Smith (Pittston, Maine) picked up her second win of the year after tossing 3.2 innings of one-hit ball while walking five and fanning eight. Freshman Katelyn Olsen (Hartford, Maine) – seeing her first game action since March 10th in Florida – allowed four runs off four hits and a walk with on strikeout in one inning of relief.
Rivier starter Kendall Stanton suffered the loss after yielding five runs off seven hits and a walk in 1/3 inning while Taylor Thomas fared no better, giving up six runs (five earned) off nine hits in 2.2 frames of relief. Taylor Rowsell closed out the contest for the visitors and allowed one run off two hits and a walk in 1.2 innings.
OFF THE BAT – SAINT JOSEPH'S:
- Senior Jennifer Murphy (Andover, Mass.) was 4-4 with a double, two runs, and two RBI
- Elliott went 3-3 with three runs, a triple, and two RBI
- Pomerleau tripled twice with two runs and a pair of RBI
- Smith was 3-4 with a run and a double
- Freshman left fielder Caitlyn King (Old Town, Maine) was 2-3 with a double and two RBI
OFF THE BAT – RIVIER:
- Desirae Brawn swatted a pinch-hit two-run homer in the top of the fifth
- Cote doubled in a pair in the fifth frame
NOTEWORTHY:
Pomerleau is the third SJC player to register a pair of triples in the same game and first since Emily Leverone '12 accomplished the feat versus Emerson College on March 21st, 2009…with two from Pomerleau and a third three-bagger off the bat of Elliott, the Monks hit the triple trifecta for the fourth time in team history and first since March 21st, 2009…the game-two victory was the Monks' first mercy-rule win of the season.
HISTORICALLY SPEAKING:
With the sweep, Saint Joseph's improves to 19-4 in the history of the series with Rivier University and has now defeated the Raiders in nine-consecutive meetings.
NEXT!
Saint Joseph's hosts Anna Maria College for a GNAC doubleheader tomorrow with the first contest starting at 12:00 PM.
#GOMONKS
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Saint Joseph's College is Maine's only Catholic liberal arts college, providing a supportive, personalized and career-focused education for more than 100 years. From its 474-acre campus on the shores of Sebago Lake, the College offers more than 40 undergraduate programs to a population of approximately 1,000 students. Saint Joseph's College Online provides certificates, undergraduate and advanced degrees for working adults through an online learning program. For more, visit www.sjcme.edu.