KISSIMMEE, Fla. - Saint Joseph's College (2-8) wrapped up the 2018 spring trip with a pair of losses in the Sunkissed Games on Friday. The Monks opened with a 5-1 loss at the hands of John Carroll University (5-3) and capped the day with a 14-4 loss at the hands of Ohio Northern University (8-2).
GAME ONE – John Carroll 5, Saint Joseph's 1:
The Monks grabbed a 1-0 lead with two out in the top of the first, when junior shortstop Meghan Elliott (Mendon, Mass.) singled, moved to second on a Melodie Bailey (Lebanon, Maine) base knock, and scored on a Kaylee Burns (Saco, Maine) single to right field.
The Monks' edge remained until the bottom of the second, when Nicole Geringer roped an RBI single and Quinn Sobieszczanski belted a two-run homer.
John Carroll tacked on a pair of runs in the third, when Lindsay McKnight and Hannah Mizener posted RBI hits to account for the 5-1 final score.
Saint Joseph's had runners in scoring position in the third and seventh frames but stranded the baserunners in both situations.
IN THE CIRCLE:
Sophomore Caitlyn King (Old Town, Maine) took the loss after allowing 10 runs (eight earned) off 10 hits and three walks in three innings. Smith tossed three scoreless, two-hit frames, and Whitney gave up four runs (three earned) off three hits in one inning of work.
For John Carroll, Jennifer Patterson earned the victory after allowing a run off six hits and two walks with four strikeouts over six innings. Elizabeth O'Grady allowed a hit and a walk in an inning of relief.
OFF THE BAT:
- Sophomore second baseman Libby Pomerleau (Limerick, Maine) was 2-4 with a double
- Bailey went 2-2 with a walk
- McKnight, Mizener, Sobieszczanski, and Caitlin Fitzsimmons notched two hits apiece for John Carroll
GAME TWO – Ohio Northern 14, Saint Joseph's 4:
The game was scoreless through two innings, but it all came apart in the top of the third when Ohio Northern plated 10 runs off nine hits and an SJC error. Mallory Taylor ripped a two-run single and Alicia Swierz posted a two-run triple during the game-changing frame.
The Monks managed to stave off the mercy rule with two runs in the fourth and a pair of runs in the fifth. In the top of the fourth, Burns doubled home Bailey and later scored on a Meghan Eagleston (Reading, Mass.) sacrifice fly. Pomerleau and Elliott both scored in the fifth to make it a 10-4 game.
John Carroll proceeded to put up four runs off three hits and a Saint Joseph's miscue in the seventh. Jenna Hollar notched a two-run triple and Gabby Stewart plated a run with a double during the four-run seventh.
IN THE CIRCLE:
Sophomore Caitlin King (Old Town, Maine) took the loss after allowing 10 runs (eight earned) off 10 hits and three walks in three innings. Smith tossed three scoreless, two-hit frames, and Whitney gave up four runs (three earned) off three hits in one inning of work.
Ohio Northern starter Kaitlin Surdej picked up the win after yielding four runs off 13 hits with three K's in a complete-game performance.
OFF THE BAT:
- Bailey was 3-3 with a run scored and a walk
- Burns went 3-4 with a run, a double, and an RBI
- Sophomore Maizie Lee (Saco, Maine) added three hits and an RBI in four at bats
- Stewart and Taylor registered three hits and two RBI apiece fro Ohio Northern
