CHARLOTTE, FL - Clark University (MA) used a 3-run 8th inning to get past the Monks in a nine inning contest on Monday morning in the third game of the team's southern trip. SR Dustin Spiller (Gorham, ME) and FY Ian Lee (Hampden, ME) each collected two hits in the loss. JR Andy Pooler (Somesville, ME) took the loss in relief to fall to 1-1 on the season. The Monks are 1-2 after the defeat and Clark University improves to 2-2.

The Cougars jumped to a lead early after Monks' SO pitcher Mike Burdin (Gardiner, ME) gave up a three-run homer to JR Matthew Tillo (Osterville, MA) in the first inning. Burdin settled in after the rocky start to hold the Clark offense at bay and St. Joe's tacked on runs in the 2nd, 4th and 5th innings to tie the game at three apiece.

SR Brian Schools (Gorham, ME) drove a hit up the middle for a single to send teammate SR Andrew Wood (South Portland, ME) across the plate in the seventh inning to provide the Monks with a 4-3 lead.

Pinch hitter FY Joe Douglass (Poland, ME) tripled to the left-center gap in the eighth inning to notch his first collegiate hit and drive in FY pinch runner John Swasey (South Berwick, ME) to put St. Joe's up by two, 5-3, with an inning to go.

The SJC bullpen was unable to hold on to the lead, however, as the Cougars battled back to regain the lead in the bottom of the eighth inning with 3 runs off of 4 hits to secure a 6-5 lead. The Monks offense was unable to come through with the big hit in the top of the ninth and stranded two runners on base. Overall, the Monks left nine men on base in the loss.

SR Luke Enman (Milan, NH), Dustin Spiller and Ian Lee all connected for doubles in the SJC loss.

For Clark, Matthew Tillo was 2-2, SR Joseph Silva (Westbury, NY) was 3-4 with 2 runs and SR Matthew Adams (Jackson Heights, NY) was 2-5 in the game. SO Erik DiMarco (Bellingham, MA) picked up the victory in relief for the Cougars.

The Monks will hit the diamond on Wednesday morning at 11:00 AM against Thomas More College (KY) in a doubleheader.