LEESBURG, Fla. – Saint Joseph's College (2-3) split a pair of games in The Spring Games at the Sleepy Hollow Complex on Tuesday. The Monks opened play with a 10-3 win over Russell Sage College (1-6) and closed the day with a 5-2 setback at the hands of former conference-rival Emerson College (3-0).
GAME 1:
HOW IT HAPPENED:
The Monks faced a 2-0 deficit right out of the gates, as grad student Emily Agate worked a two-out walk and trotted home when the following batter, junior Makayla Lindsey, belted a home run beyond the left field fence in the top of the first inning.
St. Joe's countered with a run in the bottom of the first, when senior left fielder Ashley Emery (Madison, Maine) singled and later scored on a Bailey Rassol (Rehoboth, Mass.) base hit.
The Monks tied the game with back-to-back doubles in the bottom of the third, as junior shortstop Olivia Howe (Arundel, Maine) roped a two-bagger to right center and quickly scored on a Rassol two-base hit to left.
Saint Joseph's grabbed the lead with three runs off two hits and a pair of Sage errors in the bottom of the fourth. Sophomore Alexis Downs (Auburn, Maine) provided the big hit of the frame with a pinch-hit two-run single with two out, making it a 5-2 game through four frames.
The SJC bats truly came to life in the fifth when the Monks put the game out of reach with four runs on six hits and a pair of Sage miscues. Sophomore right fielder Taylor Owen (Wakefield, Mass.) produced an RBI double and Laurel Clace (Keene, N.H.) and Lydia Goodnough (Kennebunkport, Maine) delivered run-scoring singles to help the Royal Blue secure a 9-2 advantage.
IN THE CIRCLE:
- Junior starter Meredith Pence (Remington, Va.) picked up her first win of the season after allowing three runs off four hits and five walks with six strikeouts in 5.2 innings
- Junior reliever Emily Eagleston (Reading, Mass.) scattered two hits over 1.1 scoreless frames
- For Sage, Taylor Dicranian took the loss after giving up nine runs (six earned) on 13 hits with two K's in five innings; Kadence Schluter allowed a run off one hit and three walks in one inning of work
OFF THE BAT:
- Rassol went 3-for-3 with a run, a double and two RBI
- Clace was 3-for-4 with two runs, a double, and an RBI
- Emery added a pair of this and a run scored in three at-bats
- For Sage, Agate was 2-for-2 with a run and a pair of walks and Lindsey went 2-for-4 with a two-run homer
GAME 2:
HOW IT HAPPENED:
All the game scoring occurred in the first two innings, with Emerson kicking off the contest with two runs on three hits and two St. Joe's errors. The Monks fought back to tie the game in the top of the second, when junior left fielder Emily Eagleston (Reading, Mass.) doubled home a run and promptly scored on a Haley Tighe (Worcester, Mass.) base hit.
Unfortunately, the tie score did not last long, as the Lions took the lead – for good as it played out – with three runs on a pair of hits and two more SJC errors. Senior Calli Pratt did most of the damage with a two-run triple and was driven home with an infield single.
A pitchers' duel ensued, as neither team managed to score for the remainder of the contest. The Monks had a prime opportunity to at least cut into their deficit with runners on second and third and two out in the top of the fourth but failed to capitalize.
IN THE CIRCLE:
- SJC junior starter Sydney Hatch (Newburgh, Maine) allowed two earned runs off seven hits with a strikeout over six innings and suffered the loss despite the solid performance
- Emerson starter Jessica Gomez earned the win after yielding one earned run on eight hits and two walks with 10 punch-outs in a complete-game effort
OFF THE BAT:
- Emery was 2-for-3 with a double and a stolen base
- Freshman Rylee Page (Somersworth, N.H.) went 2-for-3 with a run scored
- For Emerson, Pratt was 2-for-3 with a run, a triple and two RBI and Makenzie Killough went 2-for-3 with an RBI
NEXT!
Saint Joseph's has a day off tomorrow and returns to action Thursday with games versus Trine (10:30 AM) and Thomas College (3:00 PM).
