STANDISH, ME – Saint Joseph's College (17-7, 8-0 GNAC) won both ends of a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) doubleheader versus Anna Maria College (5-20, 2-12 GNAC) at Larry Mahaney Diamond on Sunday afternoon. The Monks edged the AMCATS, 3-2, in the first game of the day and wrapped up the sweep with a 6-1 triumph in the latter contest.
GAME ONE – Saint Joseph's 3, Anna Maria 2
The Monks broke a scoreless tie with two runs in the bottom of the third, as freshman shortstop Max McCoomb (South Berwick, Maine) and senior center fielder Louie Vigars (Stratham, N.H.) both recorded run-scoring singles.
The Monks squandered a prime scoring chance in the sixth, as the hosts were unable to capitalize on a bases-loaded with one out scenario and stranded a trio of baserunners.
The missed opportunity set the stage for a dramatic finish in the bottom of the seventh. With one out, Vigars singled up the middle and moved into scoring position on an Alex Lorenc (Nanuet, N.Y.) sacrifice bunt. The Monks proceeded to trump the AMCATS in walk-off fashion, as junior first baseman Nic Lops (South Portland, Maine/Cheverus) delivered the winning hit – a single through the left side – to help the hosts remain undefeated in GNAC play.
Vigars, 2-3 with a run and an RBI in the victory, was the lone repeat-hitter for either club in the opener. Starting pitcher Alex Valenti (Lawrence, Mass.) finished what he started and allowed two unearned runs off four hits and four walks while fanning six to improve to 3-2 on the season.
Anna Maria junior starter Lucas Davis (Spencer, Mass.) suffered the loss after yielding three runs off seven hits and three free passes with four K's in 6.2 innings and falls to 0-7 on the year.
GAME TWO – Saint Joseph's 6, Anna Maria 1
The AMCATS struck first in the nightcap, plating a run off a hit and two SJC errors in the first inning. Creamer led off with a single, moved to second on a botched pickoff attempt, scampered to third on a passed ball, and scored on an infield error to make it a 1-0 game after a half inning of play.
The Monks tied the game with two out in the bottom of the second, when freshman first baseman Brett Barbati (Melrose, Mass.) walked on four pitches, stole second and scored on a Taylor Black (Cardiff by the Sea, Calif.) base hit.
Black delivered again in the fourth, lifting the Royal Blue to a 3-1 lead with a two-run single with two out. Lops, who opened the frame and reached on an error, and Coyne, who reached via base on balls, both scored on the hit.
Saint Joseph's put the game well out of reach in the sixth and Black was in the thick of the three-run frame. With two out and pinch runner Tim Beaudette (Uxbridge, Mass.) on second, the freshman third baseman drove home his fourth run of the game with a single to center. Black, who advanced to second on the failed attempt to throw Beaudette at home, immediately scored on a base hit off the bat of sophomore second baseman Zack Graham (Marlborough, Mass.), who promptly scored when the following batter, McCoomb, rapped a single up the middle, lifting the hosts to a 6-1 cushion.
For the Monks, Black enjoyed the finest day of his young career, going 3-3 with a run and four RBI, while McCoomb was 2-4 with a double and an RBI in the victory. Senior starter Nick Whittaker (Yarmouth, Maine) was brilliant, allowing an unearned run off three hits and a walk with a career-high 13 strikeouts to improve to 3-1 on the season.
Freshman lefthander Andrew Sawyer (Dracut, Mass.) took the loss after giving up six runs (five earned) off nine hits and two walks in 5.2 innings.
With the sweep, Saint Joseph's improves to 6-2 in the history of the series with Anna Maria College. The AMCATS have lost eight-consecutive games - and 13 of the last 14 - with their last victory coming in a sweep over Rivier University on April 6th.
Saint Joseph's will face GNAC-rival Lasell College tomorrow in a doubleheader slated to start at 2:00 PM while Anna Maria hosts Mount Saint Vincent in a non-conference twinbill beginning at 2:00 PM on Wednesday.
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Saint Joseph's College is Maine's only Catholic liberal arts college, providing a supportive, personalized and career-focused education for more than 100 years. From its 430-acre campus on the shores of Sebago Lake, the College offers more than 40 undergraduate programs to a population of approximately 1,000 students. Saint Joseph's College Online provides certificates, undergraduate and advanced degrees for working adults through an online learning program. For more, visit www.sjcme.edu.
