WINTER HAVEN, FL – Saint Joseph's (4-0) rallied from a 5-4 deficit with two runs in the bottom of the eighth to defeat Aurora University (1-2) in RussMatt Central Florida Invitational action on Sunday morning. Junior Nic Lops (South Portland, Maine/Cheverus) was 3-4 with two runs, a double and a pair of RBI in the victory.

Down 5-4 after the Spartans scored on a groundball out in the top of the eighth, the Monks managed to knot the contest when sophomore second baseman Zack Graham (Marlborough, Mass.) worked a four-pitch walk and later scored on a one-out single from Nic Lops (South Portland, Maine/Cheverus). Three batters later, with runners on first and second with two out, senior third baseman Alex Markakis (Lynnfield, Mass.) plated Lops for the game-winning run with a single to right field.

Saint Joseph's used six different pitchers in the win, with sophomore reliever Corey McNamara (West Newbury, Mass.) collecting the victory after tossing 1.2 innings of one-hit ball with a pair of strikeouts. Senior Joe Gruntkosky (Peabody, Mass.) got the start and worked three innings, allowing three runs off seven hits and a walk, and freshman Nick Malatesta (Wrentham, Mass.), making his NCAA debut, threw three scoreless frames while yielding a hit and a walk with a pair of K's. Freshman Keenen Lowe (Westbrook, Maine), sophomore Riley Cox (Westford, Mass.) and junior Anthony Zawistowski (Otisville, N.Y.) combined for 1.1 innings of relief.

Including Lops, Markakis was one of two repeat-hitters for the Monks and was 3-5 with a run, a double and a pair of RBI in the victory. Sophomore Tim Beaudette (Uxbridge, Mass.) reached base four times without getting a hit, working two walks and getting plunked on a pair of occasions, and junior catcher Joe Coyne (Duxbury, Mass.) earned three free passes in the triumph.

Saint Joseph's returns to New England tonight and will return to the Sunshine State next weekend to begin a week-long, nine game set in the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational. The Monks open the second southern swing with a doubleheader versus Wheaton College on Sunday, March 9th. 

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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 430-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.