GORHAM, ME – Ian Lee '11 (Hampden, ME) hit a three-run homer and drove in four runs in a 7-6 come-from-behind victory over Southern Maine (12-10) on Thursday afternoon. Saint Joseph's improves to 21-10 overall with the triumph.
The Huskies jumped out to a 5-1 lead with two runs in the first frame and three runs in the fourth off a three-run jack by catcher Zach Fernandes '12 (Eliot, ME). The Monks responded with Lee's longball in the sixth, making it a one-run game, and plated two in the eighth to capture the lead. A perfectly executed squeeze play in the top of the ninth provided the Royal Blue with a much-needed insurance run, as USM managed to push across the would-be tying run in the ninth before reliever Pat Moran '10 (Winterport, ME) induced Collin Henry '10 (Penobscot, ME) to fly out to end the game.
Moran earned the victory on the hill for the Monks after tossing 3.2 solid innings of relief, fanning six while allowing two hits and one run. USM reliever Dustin Stanton '12 (Cornish, ME) took the loss after allowing three runs off five hits in 2.1 innings.
Overall, St. Joe's scored six of its seven runs, and registered nine of its 12 hits, in the final four innings en route to the one-run victory.
Southern Maine managed to grab an early lead, as the host scored two runs in their first turn off SJC starter Chad Rafferty '13 (Keene, NH). USM leadoff hitter Greg Holmes '12 (West Newbury, MA) led off with a double to left and scored when the next batter, Anthony Pisani '12 (Cheshire, CT) tripled to center. Mike Eaton '11 (Sabattus, ME) sent Pisani scrambling home with a ground-out to second base to put his team up 2-0.
Saint Joseph's got on the board with an unearned run off a USM miscue in the top of the fourth. Ben Grant-Roy '10 (Biddeford, ME) reached with a one-out walk, advanced to second on an infield play and scored when Eric LaBatte '11 (Rochester, NH) reached on an infield error.
The Fernandes tater put the hosts up by four, 5-1, after four innings, but the Monks proceeded to make hay when the Southern Maine bullpen was called upon by the Huskies coaching staff. After allowing consecutive hard-hit singles to Mike Burdin '10 (Gardiner, ME) and Todd Keneborus '11 (Hollis Center, ME/Cheverus) to start the sixth, USM starter Joe Curran '11 (Arlington, MA) was lifted in favor of Stanton. After Grant-Roy flew out to right, Lee stepped up to the plate and lifted a Stanton offering over the left field wall to cut the Monks' deficit to 5-4.
With one out in the top of the eighth, Grant-Roy singled and scored the tying run on a Lee double to left center. Kyle Neagle '12 (Lisbon Falls, ME) replaced Lee at second as a pinch runner and motored home to score the go-ahead run when Travis Adams '10 (Saco, ME) singled through the right side.
The Monks, leading 6-5 heading into the top of the ninth, realized an insurance run against the potent Southern Maine lineup may prove necessary. SJC leadoff hitter Chris Campbell '11 (Rochester, NH) put the pressure on with a perfectly placed bunt single and moved to second on a ball hit by Burdin that was misplayed by Pisani at short. Keneborus belted a deep fly ball to right-center, caught by USM center fielder Tucker White '13 (Deerfield, NH) on the warning track, with Campbell tagging up and moving to third on the play. Two batters later, Nate Martin '13 (Chebeague Island, ME) entered the batter's box with two out and the bases loaded, including Campbell at third. With a 3-1 count on Martin, Campbell broke for home with the intent of stealing, but Martin, realizing his teammate may not make it in time, put down a perfect bunt for a base hit to record the eventual game-winning RBI.
For the Monks, Lee was 2-4 with a run and four RBI, Campbell went 2-5 and Mike Pratt '13 (Dartmouth, MA) was 2-4 with a double.
For the Huskies, Fernandes went 2-3 with a run and three RBI and Nick Grady '13 (Whitefield, ME) was 2-4 with a run scored.
St. Joe's will host Norwich University on Saturday in a conference twinbill slated to begin at 12:00 PM, while Southern Maine returns to action on Sunday with a conference doubleheader against Western Connecticut at 12:00 PM.
