STANDISH, Maine – Saint Joseph's College (9-11, 5-3 GNAC) and Suffolk University (12-12, 4-4 GNAC) split a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) softball doubleheader at Richard W. Bailey Field on Saturday afternoon. The Rams opened with a 4-0 victory and the Monks answered with a walk-off 4-3 triumph in the nightcap.
GAME ONE – SUFFOLK 4, SAINT JOSEPH'S 0
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Suffolk broke open a scoreless stalemate with three runs off two hits and a Saint Joseph's error in the top of the fourth, when sophomore designated player Jill Pulek (Cheshire, Conn.) doubled in junior center fielder Devlin Frost (Tewksbury, Mass.) and later scored on a throw after junior catcher Delaney Sylvester (Worcester, Mass.) singled to center.
The Rams tacked on an insurance run in the fifth when Pulek notched a bases-loaded single, scoring senior left fielder Morgan Parmeter (Maynard, Mass.) to account for the 4-0 final.
IN THE CIRCLE:
Saint Josephs' senior Kylie McFadden (Dover, N.H.) allowed four runs (two earned) off eight hits and three walks with four strikeouts in a complete-game effort. She falls to 4-4 on the season with the loss.
Suffolk junior hurler Ali Yamakaitis (Avenel, N.J.) scattered four hits with three walks and a pair of punch-outs in the complete-game shutout performance. She improves to 6-6 on the year.
OFF THE BAT – SAINT JOSEPH'S:
- Seniors Carla Tripp (Lovell, Maine) and Jennifer Murphy (Andover, Mass.), junior Kelsy Gaddy (Limington, Maine), and freshman Libby Pomerleau (Saco, Maine) recorded singles in the setback
OFF THE BAT – SUFFOLK:
- Pulek was 3-3 with a run, two doubles, and a pair of RBI
- Freshman right fielder Ashley Zulia (Columbus, N.J.) went 2-2 with a run, a double, a stolen base, and a pair of walks
GAME TWO – SAINT JOSEPH'S 4, SUFFOLK 3
HOW IT HAPPENED:
With the nightcap tied 3-3 and two down in the bottom of the seventh, Murphy delivered the game-winning hit with a single to left, scoring Tripp – who led off with a single and advanced to second on a Pomerleau base hit.
The Monks scored twice off three hits in the fourth, when Murphy plated Pomerleau and sophomore Joelle Casey (Kittery, Maine) – who entered as a pinch-runner for Murphy – scored when senior third baseman Mariah Harrison (Buxton, Maine) doubled off the wall in center field.
The conference rivals traded runs in the sixth when Suffolk senior Lindsay Pagano (Wyckoff, N.J.) plated Natalie McAllister (Malden, Mass.) with a base hit to center and sophomore first baseman Melodie Bailey (Lebanon, Maine) scored on a Kristal Smith (Pittston, Maine) double to center.
The Rams tied the game with two runs off two hits and an SJC miscue in the seventh, when Frost drove in Jaclyn Flint (Medfield, Mass.) with a groundout to second and Zulia scored on a throwing error.
IN THE CIRCLE:
Smith improved to 3-4 after allowing three runs (two earned) off eight hits and three walks with four strikeouts in a complete-game effort.
Smith took the loss and falls to 2-1 on the year after giving up two runs off six hits and a walk in three innings of relief. Junior starter Taylor Holmes (Ashford, Conn.) allowed two runs off four hits with a strikeout in 3.1 innings of work.
OFF THE BAT – SAINT JOSEPH'S:
- Bailey was 2-3 with a run and an RBI
- Pomerleau went 2-4 with a run
- Tripp added two hits and a run in four at-bats
OFF THE BAT – SUFFOLK:
- Pagano went 2-3 with an RBI
- Sylvester was 2-3 with a double and a walk
- Zulia went 2-4 with a run and a double
HISTORICALLY SPEAKING:
With the split, Saint Joseph's is now 19-9 in the history of the series with Suffolk University. The Rams swept the Monks last spring, with 9-4 and 12-5 wins on April 24th in Boston.
NEXT!
The Monks are back in action Tuesday with a non-conference doubleheader versus Bowdoin College. First pitch at Bailey Field is scheduled for 5:30 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.