STANDISH, Maine – Senior designated hitter Jameson Collins (Sandown, N.H.) hit a walk-off two-run homer to lift #20/21 Saint Joseph's College (21-4, 6-0 GNAC) past Plymouth State University (10-11, 2-4 LEC), 6-5, in a non-conference baseball game at Larry Mahaney Diamond on Monday afternoon.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Saint Joseph's built a 4-0 advantage off four hits, including a bases-clearing double by freshman left fielder Ben Gravel (Rochester, N.H.), and a Plymouth State error in the bottom of the second, but the Panthers went on to tie the game with four runs off three hits and five walks in the top of the sixth. The visitors managed to grab a 6-5 edge in the top of the eighth when junior catcher Cam Ruziak (Sterling, Mass.) doubled and later scored on a sac fly off the bat of senior second baseman Eric Leitch (Lanesboro, Mass.).
The Monks had runners on first and third in the bottom of the eighth but failed to convert, setting the stage for the late-game heroics by Collins. Senior right fielder Dennis Meehan (Gardiner, Maine) singled to lead off the ninth and was lifted in favor of pinch runner Jared Gagne (Dover, N.H.), who moved up 90 feet on a sac bunt by Taylor Black (Cardiff by the Sea, Calif.) before trotting home on the blast over the left field wall.
ON THE MOUND:
Saint Joseph's freshman starter Matt Demma (Worcester, Mass.) was outstanding in five innings of work, fanning 10 batters while allowing a hit and a walk in his second start of the season. Neither sophomore Grayson Jennings (Mililani, Hawaii) nor junior Marc Poirier (Lunenburg, Mass.) recorded an out while allowing four runs off four walks and a hit in the sixth before junior lefthander Josh Partridge (Deerfield, N.H.) entered the game and tossed four strong innings, allowing a run off seven hits and a walk with four K's, to pick up the win and improve to 5-0 on the year.
Plymouth State junior starter Cam Cossette (Milford, Mass.) allowed four runs off seven hits and two walks with five punch-outs over six innings and senior reliever Connor MacRae (Newburyport, Mass.) yielded one run off two hits and a walk with two strikeouts in two frames or work. Freshman Alex Larson (Brunswick, Maine) took the loss and falls to 1-1 on the year after giving up the Collins long ball in the ninth.
OFF THE BAT – SAINT JOSEPH'S:
- Collins went 2-5 with two runs, his fifth home run of the year, and a pair of RBI
- Gravel was 2-4 with a run, a double, and three RBI
- Junior center fielder Chris Gerossie (Chester, N.H.) went 2-2 with a stolen base and an RBI
- Black was 1-3 with a pair of sacrifice bunts
OFF THE BAT – PLYMOUTH STATE:
- Sophomore center fielder Ryan Richard (Berlin, N.H.) was 2-4 with a run and a stolen base
- Ruziak went 2-4 with a run and a double
- Sophomore right fielder Ryan Boldwin (Manchester, N.H.) added two hits and an RBI in five trips to the plate
HISTORICALLY SPEAKING:
With the victory, Saint Joseph's improves to 19-14 in the history of the series with Plymouth State University. The last time these teams met prior to today was on April 1st, 2007 when the Monks and Panthers split a doubleheader at Mahaney Diamond.
NEXT!
Both teams are back in action tomorrow, when Saint Joseph's hosts Endicott College at 4:00 PM and Plymouth State plays at Keene State College in a Little East Conference (LEC) tilt slated to begin at 3:30 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.
