BANGOR, Maine – Husson University (8-8) walked off with a bases-loaded fielder's choice in the bottom of the 15th inning to tip Saint Joseph's College (13-4), 2-1, in non-conference baseball action on Thursday evening.
Playing in cold windy conditions, the Monks plated their only run of the game in the top of the third when senior catcher Greg Emanuelson (Hudson, N.H.) delivered an RBI triple.
Husson tied the contest with a Luke Covey (Milton, Vt.) RBI double in the bottom of the eighth. Junior Jonathan Rolfe (Plainville, Mass.) and freshman Matt Poff (Pelham, N.H.) proceeded to allow just one baserunner over the following five innings before freshman left fielder Nolan Brown (Gorham, Maine) led off the 15th with a single.
Senior right fielder Connor McGuire (Ellsworth, Maine) followed Brown's knock with another base hit and, looking for the double play, the Monks intentionally walked junior shortstop Nick Guerrette (Hermon, Maine) to load the bases with one out. The plan nearly worked as junior center fielder David LeBlanc (Beaumont, Alberta) grounded to second and Guerrette was forced out on what could have been a twin killing, but LeBlanc beat the pivot throw to first while Brown scored the winning run.
Poff, who tossed 4.2 innings in an extended relief outing, took the loss after allowing a run off two hits with a pair of K's. The Monks used eight different pitchers in the narrow setback.
Husson junior Jesse Colford (Bangor, Maine) picked up the victory after tossing four perfect innings of relief while fanning five SJC batters.
Saint Joseph's played 26 different players overall with 18 hitters registering at least two plate appearances. Senior right fielder Jared Gagne (Dover, N.H.) was 1-3 with a run, senior shortstop Joey Murphy (Derry, N.H.) went 1-3 with a stolen base, and Emanuelson was 1-3 with a triple and an RBI.
Saint Joseph's kicks off conference action on Saturday with a pair of games at Johnson & Wales University. The first contest starts at 1:00 PM.
