NEWTON, Mass. – Saint Joseph's College (7-13, 3-5 GNAC) swept Lasell College (4-16, 3-5 GNAC), 9-0 and 7-0, in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) softball action on Friday afternoon. With the opening win, Head Coach Jamie Smyth '92 registered his 500th career victory.
Smyth, now in his 21st season, is the winningest coach in SJC Softball history and now has a 501-325 (.607) career record at the helm for the Monks.
GAME ONE - Saint Joseph's 9, Lasell 0 (6 inn.):
The Monks held a 2-0 lead through four innings and proceeded to take the mercy-rule win with four runs in the fifth and three in the sixth.
In the fifth, sophomore third baseman Kaylee Burns (Saco, Maine) knocked in a pair with a single and sophomore Maizee Lee (Saco, Maine) launched a two-run homer – the Monks first long ball since Melissa Mayhew '16 belted a grand slam at Lasell on April 30th, 2016 – to lift the Royal Blue to a 6-0 cushion through five frames.
The Monks notched a 9-0 lead with three runs off four hits in the top of the sixth, when Burns roped another two-run single and Lee plated a run with a single to center.
IN THE CIRCLE:
- Junior Kristal Smith (Pittston, Maine) tossed a gem, allowing two hits and a walk with five punch-outs over six shutout innings
- Lasell starter Arcese falls to 1-4 after allowing six runs off 10 hits with two K's in five innings
- Genkos yielded three runs off four hits and a walk with a strikeout in an inning of relief
OFF THE BAT:
- Lee was 3-4 with a run, a home run, and three RBI
- Burns went 2-4 with a run and four RBI
- Sophomore second baseman Libby Pomerleau (Limerick, Maine) was 2-4 with three runs and a double
- Junior Katie Chadbourne (Jaffrey, N.H.) was 2-3 with two runs scored
GAME TWO – Saint Joseph's 7, Lasell 0:
The Monks came out of the gates swinging and scored three runs off four hits in the top of the first, when Pomerleau singled and scored on a Burns sac fly, junior shortstop Meghan Elliott (Mendon, Mass.) singled and stole home on a first and third play, and Lee plated junior Melodie Bailey (Lebanon, Maine) with a base hit.
Saint Joseph's tacked on a run in the second when junior Danielle Pinkham (Damariscotta, Maine) singled and scored on a sac fly from Elliott and held a 5-0 lead after Bailey singled and scored on an infield groundout in the fifth.
St. Joe's capped the game scoring with two runs in the top of the seventh, when Elliott walked and eventually scored on a Lee groundout and Bailey singled and later raced home on an infield error.
IN THE CIRCLE:
- SJC sophomore Kate Whitney (Jonesboro, Maine) earned the win after tossing five scoreless innings with three strikeouts while allowing five hits and three walks
- Sophomore Caitlyn King (Old Town, Maine) fanned four and gave up two hits in a pair of innings
- Lasell freshman starter Hailey Haskins (Franklin, N.H.) yielded seven runs (six earned) off 10 hits and two walks over seven innings and falls to 3-6 on the season with the setback
OFF THE BAT:
- Bailey was 3-4 with two runs
- Lee doubled and drove in three runs
- Elliott went 2-2 with three runs and an RBI
- Chadbourne posted two hits
- Sophomores Victoria Spellman (Rocky Hill, Conn.) and Arianna Genovese (Rocky Hill, Conn.) posted two hits apiece for the Lasers
NEXT!
Saint Joseph's is back in action tomorrow with a conference doubleheader at Anna Maria College. First pitch for the opener is slated for 11:00 AM.
#GOMONKS
Follow Saint Joseph's Athletics on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram!
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.
