WINTERHAVEN, FL - Saint Joseph's (2-3) held a 5-0 lead over Thomas More College (1-1-1) through 3 1/2 innings, but the Saints scored a combined 15 runs on 15 hits in the fourth and the eighth innings to blow out the Royal Blue, 17-7. SJC catcher Ian Lee '11 (Hampden, ME) was 4-5 while Eric LaBatte '11 (Rochester, NH) and Chris Campbell '11 (Rochester, NH) both added two hits for the Monks, who stranded 13 runners in the loss.

St. Joe's, playing their fifth game in three days, jumped out to a 4-0 lead on three hits in the first inning. With one out, Campbell earned a base on balls and Lee singled up the middle. Ben Grant-Roy '10 (Biddeford, ME) laced a double to left-center to send both SJC runners across the plate and later scored on a single off the bat of LaBatte. Craig Woodbrey '10 (Gorham, ME) muscled a two strike offering from TMC pitcher Patrick Allen '11 (Fort Thomas, KY) to send home Todd Keneborus '11 (Hollis Center, ME/Cheverus) and cap the scoring for the opening inning.

SJC starter Andrew Keirstead '10 (Westbrook, ME) sailed in the early going, and, with the help of a pickoff and a 1-6-3 double play, faced the minimum through the first three innings.

The Monks tacked on another run in the top of the fourth to make the score 5-0. Shortstop Danny Achorn '12 (Bow, NH) led off the frame with a walk and Wade Oliver '09 (Owls Head, ME) drove a single through left side before Campbell moved them both up a base with a sac bunt. Lee followed with his second hit of the game, a base knock between third and short, to send Achorn across the plate.

Saints center fielder T.J. Souder '10 (Mason, OH) opened the bottom of the inning with a sharp single up the middle before Keirstead induced a fly-out to right from Chris Fishburn '10 (Cincinnati, OH) to record the first, and as it turned out his only, out of the inning. For Thomas More, the second time around against the southpaw proved to be much more fruitful, as the Saints rapped out five straight hits off the junior lefty to send five runs home and tie the game. Spencer Franzreb '11 (Cincinnati, OH) smashed a triple to deep center just beyond the reach of Oliver, who crashed into the fence in an attempt to add another spectacular catch to his résumé, sending a pair of runs home and Monks Head Coach Will Sanborn to the bullpen for righty Curtis Orlik '12 (Brimfield, MA). Orlik yielded a hit to Max Robbins '11 (Cincinnati, OH), who pushed a weakly-hit single through a drawn-in infield past an outstretched Achorn, to score Franzreb, giving the Saints their first lead of the game. TMC managed to score two unearned runs in the inning before Fishburn whiffed on an Orlik bender to close the frame with the Saints on top, 8-5.

The Monks remained tuned in, however, and plated two runs in their next turn at the bat. Designated hitter Pat Moran '10 (Winterport, ME) doubled down the left field line with one out and LaBatte singled to left before Woodbrey worked a walk to load the bases. Pinch hitter Dan Brown '12 (Portland, ME/Deering) watched a marginal third strike go by for the second out of the inning, but Oliver picked him up by poking a two-strike single to right field, scoring both Moran and LaBatte and making the score 8-7, Thomas More.

Orlik motored through the next two innings, allowing two hits and no runs with the help of a key 6-4-3 double play in the sixth. Unfortunately for St. Joe's, the Monks' bats went quiet while the rookie hurler held the Saints in check.

With runners on first and third and one out, Orlik was lifted in favor of lefty Chris Dion '11 (Lawrence, MA), who allowed a couple of weakly hit singles, both of which led to TMC runs. The Saints closed out the seventh with a 10-7 lead.

St. Joe's appeared to be on the comeback trail, as they had done many times already on their southern swing, in the top of the eighth. Campbell ignited the SJC offense with an infield hit and Lee notched his fourth hit of the game, a single up the middle, before being replaced by pinch runner Pat Hamilton '12 (Plaistow, NH). After a Grant-Roy fly to left, Keneborus walked to pack the bases. TMC reliever Adam Leach '11 (Carlisle, OH) managed to escape the inning unscathed, however, as Moran lost a lengthy battle with two strikes and LaBatte sharply grounded to second to cease the threat.

The Saints posted another offensive onslaught in the eighth by scoring seven runs on seven hits to put the game out of reach for the Monks. Franzreb was the culprit yet again, as he blasted a high fly ball off Dion over the left field fence for a two-run blast to cap the game scoring.

For St. Joe's, Oliver was 2-5 with two RBI's and Grant-Roy plated two runs in the losing effort. SJC freshmen Nick Lemieux '12 (Thomaston, ME), Peter Allain '12 (Salem, NH) and Jon Dahms '12 (Gorham, ME) all made their collegiate debut in the loss. Keirstead, who allowed seven hits and six earned runs in 3.1 innings, was slapped with the losing decision.

Eight different Saints had multiple hits, led by Franzreb, who went 3-for-4 with a homerun, triple, four RBI's and two runs scored. Additionally, third baseman Jake Brown '09 (Cincinnati, OH) went 3-for-5 with three RBI and two runs scored, Fishburn went 3-for-5 with two runs scored and Andrew Thole '12 (Cincinnati, OH) went 3-for-5 with two RBI and two runs. Reliever Michael Murray (Cincinnati, OH) tossed 2 2/3 innings to collect the win.

St. Joe's will take the day off on Wednesday, but will return to action Thursday with a twinbill against Skidmore College. The first pitch is scheduled for 10:00 AM