FORT MYERS, Fla. – Saint Joseph's College (8-2) closed out the 2015 Spring Break trip with a 4-3 loss at the hands of Nazareth College (6-4) and a 10-7 triumph over Curry College (3-5) in the Gene Cusic Collegiate Classic on Friday.
Nazareth 4, Saint Joseph's 3
Both teams scored single runs in the first inning and Saint Joseph's managed to grab a 2-1 edge with a run in the top of the fifth, but Nazareth plated three runs off four hits and a Monks miscue in the bottom of the sixth to claim a 4-2 advantage.
Saint Joseph's threatened in the top of the seventh with the help of three hits and a pair of Nazareth errors, as sophomore center fielder Carla Tripp (Lovell, Maine) led off with a walk and later scored on a Melissa Mayhew (Hiram, Maine) single to cut the deficit to one run.
Unfortunately, the Monks' rally would stall as Nazareth hurler Nicole White (Cazenovia, N.Y.) received some help on a nice pick-off at third base for the first out, a play that likely preserved the victory for the Golden Flyers, as sophomore catcher Jennifer Murphy (Andover, Mass.) and senior left fielder Theresa Hendrix (Scarborough, Maine/Cheverus) followed with a single and a double, respectively, to put runners on second and third with one down. White then settled in for the final outs, including a strikeout to end the game.
For the Monks, Mayhew was 3-4 with a pair of RBI, Hendrix went 2-4 with two doubles and an RBI, sophomore shortstop Mariah Harrison (Buxton, Maine) was 3-3, and Murphy added a pair of singles in four at bats.
In the circle, junior Erica Boulanger (Somersworth, N.H.) took the loss after allowing three runs off four hits with a strikeout in two innings of relief. Senior Laura Jordan (Orrington, Maine) did not factor into the decision after yielding a run off four hits with a pair of punch-outs over four frames.
Saint Joseph's and Nazareth had never met on the diamond prior to this morning's contest.
Saint Joseph's 10, Curry 7
The Monks overcame their biggest deficit of the season in the trip's final contest, as the Royal Blue trailed 7-0 after Curry plated seven runs off five hits and four SJC errors in the top of the third. Saint Joseph's responded by scoring four runs off six hits and a Colonels miscue in the bottom of the inning, one off a Hendrix solo homer in the fourth, and five off six hits in the fifth to complete the 10-7 come from behind triumph.
Trailing by seven in the third, the Monks received a leadoff triple from senior third baseman Kim Jordan (Bangor, Maine), who scored three batters later when Hendrix reached on a fielder's choice. Mayhew, who reached on a walk, raced home on an outfield error committed following a Murphy single. Hendrix, who moved to third when second baseman Kelsy Gaddy (Limington, Maine) singled, scored on a Megen Pollini (Wolfeboro, N.H.) base hit to make it a 7-3 game and freshman right fielder Shannon Laubauskas (Mexico, Maine) cut the Monks' deficit down to three when she plated Murphy with a single to right.
Hendrix, who moved from the outfield to the pitcher's circle in the top of the inning, made it a two-run game with a solo jack, her second tater of the trip, in the fourth.
In the fifth, Gaddy opened with a double to center and was lifted in favor of pinch-runner Alyssa Wade (Peru, Maine), who scored along with senior Victoria Ramos (North Scituate, R.I.) on a Jordan single to center, a base knock that reset the scoreboard at seven-apiece. With runners on first and second and nobody out, Tripp cleared the bases with a two-bagger to left field, lifting the Monks to a 9-7 lead, and the second-year speedster promptly scored when the following batter, Mayhew, roped a single to center, accounting for the 10-7 final.
Eight different Saint Joseph's players tallied at least one hit, with five posting multiple-hit performances, in the thrilling victory. Jordan registered her fourth triple of the season and was 2-5 with two runs and a pair of RBI, Tripp went 2-4 with a run, a double and two RBI, and Gaddy was 2-2 with a double in the triumph. Murphy and Laubauskas both went 2-3 versus the Colonels and Hendrix was 1-3 with two runs, a homer and two RBI in the trip's final game.
Hendrix collected her first pitching win of the season after allowing three hits and a walk with three K's over four innings of work. Sophomore starter Danielle Egan (Waterboro, Maine) did not factor into the decision after giving up seven runs (four earned) off six hits and a pair of free passes while fanning four in three frames.
With the result, Saint Joseph's improves to 3-1 all-time versus Curry College and has now defeated the Colonels in three-consecutive meetings dating back to the 2005 season.
Saint Joseph's has now posted an 8-2 spring trip record in each of the last three seasons, but perhaps none has been more impressive than this year's performance. The Monks outscored their opponents by a collective 87-43 score with four mercy-rule wins while posting a stellar .381 (114-299) batting average and a .518 slugging percentage during the 10 southern swing contests. With more walks (37) than strikeouts (35), St. Joe's recorded an outstanding .461 OBP and was also successful on 13 of 14 stolen base attempts while playing in the Sunshine State.
Five regulars head back north hitting .400 or better, a quintet led by Tripp, who is off to a scorching hot start with a .538 (14-26) batting average to go with 12 runs, three doubles and eight RBI in 10 starts. Mayhew has been equally impressive and returns to New England with a .528 (19-36) average along with 10 runs, three doubles and 10 RBI and Hendrix is currently hitting .484 (15-31) with 12 runs, five doubles, two home runs and a team-leading .903 slugging percentage. Murphy batted .429 (9-21) with three runs and a pair of RBI in seven starts and Jordan, the recent GNAC and ECAC Player of the Week, continues to swing a hot bat. She concludes her final spring trip after hitting .405 (15-37) with a team-best 17 runs, three doubles, four triples and seven RBI.
There is plenty to be excited about with the pitching staff as well, as the Monks sent six different starters, and seven hurlers overall, to the circle during the week. The SJC staff posted a collective 3.78 ERA with 44 K's and 24 walks in 63 innings.
The Monks return to action next Saturday when the team travels to Albertus Magnus College for a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) doubleheader starting at 1:00 PM. Saint Joseph's remains in Connecticut for a twinbill versus GNAC-rival University of Saint Joseph the following afternoon.
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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.
