Standish, ME - The Saint Joseph's College baseball team defeated Castleton State College 12-1 on Saturday to advance to the North Atlantic Conference Tournament championship game on Sunday. The Monks (29-8, 11-3) pounded out 16 hits on the day and received an outstanding effort on the mound from freshman Mike Burdin (Gardiner, ME).

The Monks, who played as the visitors at Mahaney Diamond, got on the board early and never looked back. NAC player of the year Luke Enman (Milan, NH) opened the scoring when he blasted his sixth homerun of year over the visitors bullpen in deep right field. The Royal Blue kept attacking in the second inning; red hot Mark Clapp (Blue Hill, ME) opened the inning with a single, DH Ben Grant-Roy (Biddeford, ME) followed with a single of his own, both moved into scoring position when catcher Andrew Wood (South Portland, ME) executed a sacrifice bunt. Clapp and Grant-Roy both came home when second baseman Brian Schools (Gorham, ME) reached on a costly error by Spartans shortstop Travis Bass (West Hartford, CT). Schools, who advanced to second on the same error, scored on a Wade Oliver (Owls Head, ME) RBI single.

Luke Enman opened the third inning by singling, then advancing to second on a wild pitch by Castleton starter Jeremy Gilcris (Proctorsville, VT). Enman came in to score when centerfielder Dustin Spiller doubled. Wood knocked in spiller with a sharp single to right field, giving the Monks a commanding 6-0 lead.

Schools and Oliver each singled to open the top of the fourth inning, Keil Martin (Saco, ME) loaded the bases when his chopper back toward Gilcris was mishandled. After Luke Enman walked to score Schools, Spiller unloaded on a Gilcris offering and doubling off the wall in right. Oliver scored on the hit while Martin was thrown out at the plate. Spillers double spelled the end of the day for Gilcris as Castleton State turned it over to reliever Brandon Heck (Forestburg, Alberta). Gilcris went 3.1 innings, allowed 10 hits and 8 runs (5 earned).

In the Monks seventh, Clapp drew a walk, then stole second. He came in to score when Grant-Roy slashed a single through the left side, putting the Royal Blue on top 9-0.

In the top of the eighth Castleton called on Matt Tuthill (Durham, CT) who was greeted by Wade Oliver and Martin, who each singled. Spiller then drew a walk to load the bases. Once again it was Mark Clapp producing offense, this time it was a 2 RBI single pushing the Royal Blue advantage to 11-0.

The Spartans (26-11, 11-3)got on the board in the bottom of the eighth when Tim Zorio (Shaftsbury, VT) drew a lead off walk, then Bass reached on an error which allowed Zorio to reach third. Jon Handy (South Burlington, VT) grounded out to second to score Zorio.

In the final frame Andrew Wood drew a lead off walk before being lifted for pinch-runner Ben Buadanza-Sturks (Rockland, ME). Oliver delivered his fourth hit of the day, a double down the leftfield line to score Baudanza-Sturks all the way from first. On the play the Monks went ahead 12-1.

Mike Burdin was dominant on the mound from the outset. The rookie right-hander did not allow a hit in his first 4.2 innings, and only allowed 1 hit on the day. He finished the day going 7.1 innings allowing 1 run (earned), and striking out 1. Burdin was relieved by Andy Pooler (Southwest Harbor, ME) who worked out of a jam in the eighth before giving way to rookie Craig Woodbrey. Woodbrey tossed the final frame, allowing 1 hit.

"I can't say enough about what Mike Burdin did today. For a freshman to be given the ball in such an important playoff game, then respond the way he did! Pretty impressive." Said head coach Will Sanborn. "Offensively we wanted to get on top early and keep attacking. We had a good approach and we swung the bats well." Wade Oliver finished the day 4-6 with 2 RBI. Luke Enman, Spiller, Clapp, Grant-Roy, and Wood each had 2 hits in the game. "When we have this kind of approach our lineup gets pretty deep, we need to come out tomorrow and get right back at it" summarized Sanborn.

The Monks will look to capture their third consecutive North Atlantic Conference Tournament championship tomorrow at 12:00 noon. The Monks will take on the winner of the elimination game on Saturday night between Husson College and Castleton State. All of the action will be at beautiful Larry Mahaney Diamond on the campus of Saint Joseph's College.