STANDISH, Maine – Saint Joseph's College (20-17, 11-9 GNAC) and Johnson & Wales University (27-8, 15-5 GNAC) split a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) softball doubleheader at Richard W. Bailey Field on Friday afternoon. In the opener, the Monks rallied to edge the Wildcats by a 4-3 margin and the visitors evened the score with a 7-0 triumph in the closing contest.

THE LEAD

In the first game, Johnson & Wales held a 3-0 lead through four innings, but Saint Joseph's knotted the score with three runs off five hits and a JWU error in the fifth and freshman shortstop Meghan Elliott (Blackstone, Mass.) plated junior center fielder Carla Tripp (Lovell, Maine) – who reached on a bunt single and advanced to third on a two-base error – with a walk-off sac fly to center.

In the closing contest, the Wildcats scored single runs in the third and fifth frames before putting a five spot on the board off six hits in the top of the sixth. The Monks suffered their sixth shutout setback of the season after stranding multiple runners in the first, second, fourth, and sixth innings for a total of nine left on base.

GAME ONE – SAINT JOSEPH'S 4, JOHNSON & WALES 3

SJC HIGHLIGHTS

• Freshman right fielder Melodie Bailey (Lebanon, Maine) was 3-3 with three singles
• Tripp went 2-4 with a pair of runs scored
• Elliott knocked in a pair of runs

JWU HIGHLIGHTS

• Freshman shortstop Brenna DuPerry (Cranston, R.I.) went 2-4 with two runs
• Junior first baseman Emily Gorecki (Bremerton, Wash.) was 2-4 with an RBI
• Junior second baseman Angelica Reyes (Arleta, Calif.) added two singles in three at-bats
• Senior catcher Kristen Solari (Old Bridge, N.J.) went 1-4 with two RBI

PITCHERS OF RECORD

• SJC junior Kylie McFadden (Dover, N.H.) improved to 8-5 after allowing three runs off 10 hits with five strikeouts in a complete game effort
• JWU sophomore Jennifer Corona (Middle Island, N.Y.) suffered the loss and falls to 15-4 after allowing four runs (three earned) off nine hits with six K's over 6.2 innings

GAME TWO – JOHNSON & WALES 7, SAINT JOSEPH'S 0

SJC HIGHLIGHTS

• Senior left fielder Megen Pollini (Wolfeboro, N.H.) went 2-2 with a double
• Tripp, Elliott, Jennifer Murphy (Andover, Mass.), and Mariah Harrison (Buxton, Maine) registered singles in the loss

JWU HIGHLIGHTS

• Freshman third baseman Meghan Gavin (Wallingford, Conn.) was 3-4 with a run, a stolen base, and two RBI
• Solari went 2-4 with a double and a pair of RBI
• DuPerry added two hits, two runs, a double, and an RBI in three at-bats
• Reyes was 2-4 with a run scored

PITCHERS OF RECORD

• SJC freshman Kristal Smith (Pittston, Maine) took the loss and falls to 8-6 on the year after yielding three runs off six hits and two walks with seven punch-outs in five innings
• SJC rookie Jennelle Thompson (Farmington, N.H.) gave up four runs off six hits with a strikeout in two innings of relief
• JWU sophomore starter Noelle Weiss (Hartland, Wis.) did not factor into the decision after scattering five hits with two K's in three innings
• Corona picked up the win after allowing just one hit with two strikeouts in four innings of relief

HISTORICALLY SPEAKING

With the split, Saint Joseph's is now 16-5 in the history of the series with Johnson & Wales University. The Wildcats have triumphed in three of the last five meetings between the conference counterparts.

NEXT!

Saint Joseph's closes out the regular season with a pair of GNAC contests at Lasell College tomorrow. First pitch is scheduled for 12:00 PM.

Johnson & Wales also concludes the 2016 regular season tomorrow, as the Wildcats host University of Saint Joseph (Conn.) in a GNAC twin bill slated to start at 12:00 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.