STANDISH, Maine – Saint Joseph's College (14-2, 2-0 GNAC) posted a pair of victories over Lasell College (4-9, 0-2 GNAC) in what was the first Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) doubleheader for both teams at Larry Mahaney Diamond on Saturday afternoon. The Monks opened with a walk-off 5-4 triumph and topped the Lasers in the closing contest, 5-2, to complete the sweep.
GAME ONE – SAINT JOSEPH'S 5, LASELL 4
HOW IT HAPPENED:
The Monks trailed early, as the Lasers launched a pair of home runs in the first inning and held a 4-0 advantage after two frames. Saint Joseph's methodically chipped away at the deficit with a run in the fourth and two in the fifth before junior Chris Gerossie (Chester, N.H.) knocked in a run with a sac fly, tying the game at 4-4 through six. Senior shortstop Max McCoomb (South Berwick, Maine) led off the bottom of the seventh with a single through the left side and later scored the clincher on a Brett Barbati base hit to left field.
ON THE MOUND:
Saint Joseph's junior starter Aaron Hall (Haverhill, Mass.) endured a rough start, allowing four runs off four hits – including the two homers – and a walk with a strikeout in one-plus innings before giving way to junior Philip LeVangie (Hanover, Mass.), who tossed four two-hit frames with a pair of punch-outs. Junior Marc Poirier (Lunenburg, Mass.) worked a clean sixth inning with one strikeout and third-year Josh Partridge (Deerfield, N.H.) picked up the win after hurling a shutout frame of relief.
Lasell sophomore Daniel Petr (East Haven, Conn.) pitched well but took the loss after giving up five runs (four earned) off six hits and four walks with two K's in 6.1 innings.
OFF THE BAT – SAINT JOSEPH'S:
- Senior designated hitter Jameson Collins (Sandown, N.H.) plated a pair of runs and was 1-3
- Senior left fielder Dan Donovan (Lynn, Mass.) went 1-3 with a double
OFF THE BAT – LASELL:
- Senior shortstop Hector Coscione (Newton, Mass.) was 2-4 with a lead-off home run, a double, and two RBI
- Sophomore third baseman Andre Marchesseault (Cheshire, Conn.) belted a two-run homer
GAME TWO – SAINT JOSEPH'S 5, LASELL 2
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Once again, the Monks found themselves facing an early deficit, as the Lasers managed to push across two runs off three hits in the top of the second. With two out in the bottom of the fourth, Collins connected for his second home run of the season with a shot to the treetops past the left field fence to make it a 2-1 game. In the fifth, sophomore catcher Greg Emanuelson (Hudson, N.H.) put the Monks on top with his first career jack, a two-run shot over the left-center wall, and the Royal Blue tacked on a pair of insurance runs in the sixth to account for the 5-2 final.
ON THE MOUND:
Gerossie earned the game-two start and pitched well, despite allowing two runs off three hits and a walk, with five strikeouts in three innings. Freshman Matt Demma (Worcester, Mass.) earned his first NCAA victory after giving up four hits and fanning five in 2.2 solid relief innings while Poirier and senior Cejay Suarez (Abington, Mass.) finished the string, with the latter collecting the first save of his career after striking out two in the seventh frame.
Lasell senior starter Matt Haskell (Wallingford, Conn.) went the distance, allowing five runs (four earned) off seven hits with two K's in six innings. He falls to 0-3 on the season.
OFF THE BAT – SAINT JOSEPH'S:
- Collins went 2-3 with a run, a double, a homer, and two RBI
- Emanuelson was 1-2 with the two-run shot
- Senior third baseman Taylor Black (Cardiff by the Sea, Calif.) went 1-3 with a run and a double
OFF THE BAT – LASELL:
- Senior left fielder Brandon Valentin (Meriden, Conn.) was 2-3 with a run scored, a double, and an RBI
- Marchesseault and sophomore catcher Robert Cutone (Tewksbury, Mass.) both recorded a double
HISTORICALLY SPEAKING:
With the sweep, Saint Joseph's improves to 18-4 in the history of the series with Lasell College.
NEXT!
Both teams are back in conference action tomorrow, when Saint Joseph's travels to Johnson & Wales University for a doubleheader starting at 1:00 PM and Lasell hosts Anna Maria College in a twinbill beginning at 5:00 PM.
#GOMONKS
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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 474-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.
