STANDISH, ME - Huskies outfielder JR Anthony D'Alphonso (Westbrook, ME) hit a three-run home run in the third inning that proved to be the difference in a 6-4 St. Joe's setback to in-state rival Southern Maine (26-10) on Wednesday evening. SR Brian Schools (Gorham, ME) and SO Ben Grant-Roy (Biddeford, ME) both notched three hits in the loss for Saint Joseph's (25-14). With his sac bunt in the first inning, Schools registered his 41st career sacrifice hit, which breaks the NCAA Division III record. USM starting pitcher SR Adam Ross (Spruce Head, ME) struck out 9 and allowed 2 earned runs in 7 innings to improve to 4-3 on the season and Monks starter SO Andrew Keirstead (Westbrook, ME) allowed 11 hits and 6 earned run in 8.1 innings to fall to 5-2.

JR Chris Burleson (Portland, ME) led off the game for the Huskies with a double to the right-center gap and later scored on a SO Colin Henry (Penobscot, ME) single to give USM a one-run advantage in first inning.

Three Southern Maine errors in the bottom of the first helped the Monks knot the game at one apiece as JR Wade Oliver (Owls Head, ME) scored on a double play ball hit by SR Luke Enman (Milan, NH).

Keirstead walked the first two batters he faced in the top of the third and paid dearly when former high school teammate D'Alphonso connected for a three-run big fly to deep right field that gave the Huskies a 4-1 lead.

The Monks seemed to have a rally going with the bases loaded and nobody out in the bottom of the third, but after Luke Enman hit a ball to the left field warning track, USM starter Adam Ross recorded the final two outs himself by whiffing a pair of SJC hitters.

The Huskies tacked on a run in the fifth when SR Eddie Skeffington (Everett, MA) hit a sac fly to send home JR Andrew Stacy (Denmark, ME).

Ross found himself in trouble again in the bottom of the fifth as he was faced with the familiar situation of being surrounded by Monks with one out. It was déjà vu for the Royal Blue, however, as the crafty righthander struck out the next two SJC hitters to retire the side.

St. Joe's managed to plate a run in the sixth when Brian Schools singled to score FY Todd Keneborus (Hollis Center, ME), who earlier reached with a single to right field. Enman hit a deep fly to dead center with two Monks on base, but JR Ryan Pike (Saco, ME) tracked the ball down for the third out of the inning to preserve the 5-2 USM lead.

The Huskies saw their lead fall to 5-3 when pinch hitter SO Ricky Sarmento (Lowell, MA) grounded out to second base to score Grant-Roy, who led off the inning with a base hit.

Southern Maine tacked on an insurance run in the top of the ninth when D'Alphonso scored on a SO Josh Mackey (Danvers, MA) single to give his team a 6-3 lead.

In the bottom of the ninth, Enman walked, Grant-Roy singled and SR Dustin Spiller (Gorham, ME) singled to load the bases with nobody out. SO Nick Johnson (Yuma, AZ) hit a ball to the hole on the left side of the infield, but USM shortstop Chris Burleson made a diving stop and threw out Spiller at second base. Meanwhile, Enman scored to reduce the USM lead to 6-4. The Huskies managed to preserve the lead and win the game as relievers Andrew Stacy and Chris Burleson closed out the game with a strikeout apiece.

For the Monks, Dustin Spiller was 2-4 and SO Chris Nanof (Clinton, MA) threw 2/3 inning of scoreless relief.

Burleson was 3-4 with 2 runs and D'Alphonso went 2-3 with 2 runs and 3 RBI's for the Huskies.

The Monks will play host to another Little East opponent on Thursday when Keene State College comes to Larry Mahaney Diamond to play a single game that starts at 5:00 PM.