LYNN, Mass. – Saint Joseph's College (11-9, 2-0 GNAC) rallied from multiple-run deficits in both contests to claim a sweep over Lasell University (4-12, 3-3 GNAC) in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) doubleheader at Fraser Field on Saturday. The Monks, playing their first conference games since the 2019 season, posted an 8-6 win in the first game and capped the day with a 5-3 triumph.
In the opener, the Monks trailed 6-2 through five frames but managed to overcome the Lasers with six runs off three hits and a Lasell error in the top of the sixth. Left fielder Ben Gravel (Rochester, N.H.) tied the game with a two-run double to left center and promptly scored the eventual game-winning run when first baseman Drew Healey (Rochester, N.H.) singled to center.
In the closing contest, St. Joe's faced a 3-1 deficit going into the top of the fourth when the SJC bats swung for three runs off three hits to secure a 4-3 edge. Healey and freshman designated hitter Luke Stephens (Glastonbury, Conn.) both roped RBI doubles and senior second baseman Luke Johnson (East Hampton, Conn.) gave the visitors the lead with an RBI single.
GAME 1 – Saint Joseph's 8, Lasell 6
In the top of the second, Saint Joseph's struck first with a run on a fielder's choice but squandered a prime opportunity to break the game open early by leaving the bases loaded.
The Lasers took advantage of the momentum shift by plating three runs off four hits in the bottom of the second, when Ross Audet (Swansea, Mass.) notched a two-run double and Mario Kiaunis (West Haven, Conn.) knocked in a run with an infield groundout.
Lasell benefitted from an SJC error to take a 5-1 lead in the third when Charlie Danaher (Guilford, Conn.) plated a pair with a two-bagger to left center. Cipolla delivered an RBI single in the bottom of the fourth to give his team a 6-1 cushion.
Senior center fielder Hunter Richardson (North Monmouth, Maine) led off the fifth with a triple and later scored on a wild pitch to cut the Monks' deficit to 6-2 and, largely due to a rash of walks, the game unraveled for the Lasers in the sixth. Four of the first five SJC hitters drew free passes in the penultimate inning with freshman Dawson Gundlah (York, Maine) working a bases loaded walk to kick off the scoring. Senior right fielder Dylan Fournier (South Windsor, Conn.) made it a 6-4 game with a sac fly to right before Gravel doubled home a pair and scored the go-ahead run on a single from Healey, who later scored on an outfield error to close out the scoring with the Monks holding an 8-6 advantage.
ON THE MOUND:
- Junior Matt Poff (Pelham, N.H.) earned the win and improves to 1-2 on the season after allowing three runs (two earned) off five hits with a pair of K's in three innings
- Relievers Devan Harrison (Bourne, Mass.) and Jonathan Marchia (Chicopee, Mass.) both worked perfect innings with three strikeouts combined; Marchia earned his second save of the season
- Junior starter Matt Bergeron (Salem, N.H.) did not factor in the decision after allowing three runs off four hits over two innings
- For Lasell, reliever Jack Snyder took the loss after yielding three runs (two earned) off three hits and a walk in 2/3 inning; starter Darek Lallo gave up five runs on four hits and three walks with four punchouts in 5.1 innings
OFF THE BAT:
- Sophomore catcher Jackson Stanton (Saugus, Mass.) was the Monks' lone repeat hitter after going 2-3 with a pair of runs scored
- Gravel notched a pair of RBI
- For Lasell, Danaher was 3-3 with a run, a double, and two RBI and Audet was credited with a pair of RBI in the setback
GAME 2 – Saint Joseph's 5, Lasell 3
Sophomore catcher Jonathan Dube (Rochester, N.H.) put the Monks on the board in the top of the second with a sac fly, scoring Stephens who tripled to deep left center. The Lasers responded in their half of the frame when Harrison Silva (Lowell, Mass.) plated Audet with a two-out base hit to center.
Matt Motyka (Vernon, Conn.) broke the 1-1 tie with an RBI double down the left field line and Audet later knocked in a run with a single up the middle to lift the hosts to a 3-1 advantage.
Saint Joseph's flipped the script in the top of the fourth when the Monks grabbed a 4-3 lead on RBI doubles from Healey and Stephens and a run-scoring single from Johnson.
St. Joe's closed out the game scoring in the top of the fifth, when sophomore shortstop Zach Miles (Concord, N.H.) led off with a single and immediately crossed home plate on a Gundlah double.
ON THE MOUND:
- Stephens improved to 3-0 on the season after allowing a hit with a pair of punchouts in 2/3 inning of relief
- Harrison scattered three hits and fanned three over three scoreless innings and Marchia allowed a hit and struck out the side in the seventh to notch his second save of the day and third of the season
- Junior starter Johnathan Flynn (Holden, Mass.) allowed three runs off three hits with four strikeouts in 2.1 innings
- For Lasell, starter Lorenzo Davis (West Haven, Conn.) took the loss after yielding four runs off four hits with three K's in four innings and reliever Jay Giangrande (Andover, Mass.) let up a run off four hits with five strikeouts in three innings
OFF THE BAT:
- Stephens was 2-4 with two runs, a double, a triple, and an RBI
- Healey went 2-3 with a run, a double, and an RBI
- For Lasell, Motyka went 3-4 with two doubles and an RBI and Silva was 2-3 with a double and an RBI
HISTORICALLY SPEAKING:
With the victories, the Monks improve to 24-6 all-time versus Lasell University and have now defeated the Lasers in five-consecutive meetings dating back to the 2018 campaign.
NEXT!
Saint Joseph's is back in action tomorrow with a pair of conference games at Dean College. First pitch for the opener is set for 12:00 PM.
