STANDISH, Maine – Saint Joseph's College (0-4) suffered a pair of hard-fought losses to Husson University (4-0) in a non-conference softball doubleheader at Richard W. Bailey Field on Sunday afternoon. The Eagles edged the Monks by a 5-4 score in the opener and completed the sweep with an 8-4 triumph in the second contest.
In the first game – which was the Monks' first at Bailey Field in 691 days – the in-state rivals essentially swapped runs until the end of play. Trailing 5-2 after Husson plated a pair in the top of the sixth, the hosts rallied with single runs in the sixth and seventh to make it a one-run game but, despite having two runners in scoring position with nobody out in the bottom of the seventh, failed to tie or take the lead.
Sophomore starting pitcher Meredith Pence (Remington, Va.) took the loss after giving up three earned runs off eight hits and five walks with three punchouts in seven innings. Junior Bailey Rassol (Rehoboth, Mass.) was the Monks' lone repeat-hitter after posting a pair of singles in three at-bats.
Husson starter Jen Jones picked up the victory after yielding two earned runs off six hits and four walks with nine K's over six innings and Sydney Ames earned the save with an inning of perfect relief. Ames, Jones, and Katie Windsor notched two hits apiece in the Husson triumph.
In game two the Monks held a 4-2 lead after scoring three runs off two hits – including a two-run double off the bat of senior center fielder Meranda Martin (Richmond, Maine) – but the Eagles proceeded to score six unanswered runs during the remainder of the contest to clinch the sweep. Maddy Fowler delivered three RBI with a pair of hits in the last two innings.
For St. Joe's, sophomore Sydney Hatch (Newburgh, Maine) took the loss after yielding five runs off nine hits in five innings of work while Martin and Rassol accounted for all four of the SJC hits with two apiece.
For Husson, Ames earned the win and allowed four runs off four hits and four walks with a pair of K's in a complete-game effort. Ames, Windsor and Fowler posted two hits each to lead the Eagles' 12-hit performance.
Saint Joseph's if off until April 6th when the Monks play a pair at Southern Maine starting at 4:00 PM.
