NORTHFIELD, Vt. – Saint Joseph's College (14-14, 10-4 GNAC) swept a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) softball doubleheader at Norwich University (8-19-1, 9-10 GNAC) on Sunday afternoon. The Monks kicked off the day with a 6-3 victory and completed the sweep of the Cadets with a 6-1 triumph in the closing contest.
GAME ONE – SAINT JOSEPH'S 6, NORWICH 3
HOW IT HAPPENED:
In the top of the third, Saint Joseph's senior catcher Jennifer Murphy (Andover, Mass.) lifted her team to a 1-0 lead with an RBI single, scoring classmate Carla Tripp (Lovell, Maine) and the Monks secured a 3-0 cushion in the fifth when sophomore first baseman Melodie Bailey (Lebanon, Maine) delivered a two-run single.
The Cadets got on the board in the fifth when Justina George roped an RBI single and made it a 3-2 game when Makenna Wade scored on an infield error, but the Monks put the contest away with three runs off four hits and a Norwich error in the top of the seventh. Bailey, sophomore shortstop Meghan Elliott (Blackstone, Mass.), and senior third baseman Mariah Harrison (Buxton, Maine) delivered run-scoring hits in the final frame.
IN THE CIRCLE:
SJC sophomore starter Kristal Smith (Pittston, Maine) improves to 5-5 on the season after allowing three runs (two earned) off nine hits and two walks with eight strikeouts in a complete-game performance.
Norwich starter Rachel Johnson also went the distance and falls to 6-7 on the year after giving up six runs (four earned) off nine hits and five walks with 10 punch-outs.
OFF THE BAT – SAINT JOSEPH'S:
- Elliott was 3-4 with two runs and an RBI
- Bailey went 2-4 with a run, a double, and three RBI
- Harrison added two hits – including a double – with an RBI in four at-bats
- Tripp scored three runs and was 1-2 with two walks and a stolen base
OFF THE BAT – NORWICH:
- Wade was 2-4 with a triple and a run scored
- Center fielder Naomi Rinaldo belted a solo home run
- Right fielder Olivia Bussiere went 2-4
GAME TWO – SAINT JOSEPH'S 6, NORWICH 1
HOW IT HAPPENED:
The Monks put up two runs off two hits and a Norwich miscue in the top of the first, as Elliott notched an RBI single and Harrison pushed home a run on an infield groundout to provide the visitors with an early cushion.
The Cadets answered with a run of their own in the bottom of the first when Wade plated Sarah Perry with a single to center, but St. Joe's tacked on a pair of runs in the third and two more in the seventh to account for the 6-1 final.
IN THE CIRCLE:
SJC senior starter Kylie McFadden (Dover, N.H.) tossed a gem, allowing an unearned run off five hits with five K's in a complete-game triumph. She improves to 7-5 with the victory.
Norwich starter Emily Oliver falls to 2-10 after yielding six runs (one earned) off nine hits and two walks with four K's over seven frames.
OFF THE BAT – SAINT JOSEPH'S:
- Elliott was 2-3 with two runs, a double, and an RBI
- Tripp went 3-4 with a run
OFF THE BAT – NORWICH:
- Perry was 1-3 with a run and Wade went 1-3 with an RBI
HISTORICALLY SPEAKING:
With the sweep, Saint Joseph's improves to 19-5 in the history of the series with Norwich University. The Monks and Cadets split a GNAC twinbill at Richard W. Bailey Field last spring (4/10/16).
NEXT!
Saint Joseph's closes out the string with eight conference contests in a four-day span, starting with a two-game set with Emmanuel College on Thursday 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.
