NASHUA, N.H. – Saint Joseph's College (13-17, 7-5 GNAC) split a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) baseball doubleheader at Rivier University (8-20, 5-7 GNAC) on Sunday. The Monks opened with an 8-0 triumph and suffered a 7-4 setback in the closing contest.

GAME ONE:

Sophomore starting pitcher Jason Johnson (Thomaston, Conn.) was brilliant in the opener, as he improved to 2-2 on the season after striking out nine and allowing three hits in five shutout innings. Freshman reliever Dylan Brander (Merrimack, N.H.) followed suit by tossing two shutout frames with three K's in relief.

Freshman center fielder Jared Wilhelm (Tolland, Conn.) paced the offensive attack by going 3-3 with a stolen base and two RBI while first-year left fielder Terry Morrissey (Andover, Mass.) went 2-3 with two runs, a double, and two RBI and junior designated hitter Dawson Gundlah (York, Maine) added two singles and a run scored in three at-bats.

Rivier starter Nolan Mederos suffered the loss and falls to 1-4 after allowing six runs (four earned) on eight hits with a pair of strikeouts over 5.2 innings.

GAME TWO:

Saint Joseph's held a 4-2 lead going into the bottom of the eighth when the Raiders exploded for five runs on four hits to secure a 7-4 advantage. Frank Gulezian roped an RBI double and Jacob Boudreau delivered a pair of runs with a two-out single to lift the hosts to their first win over St. Joe's since 2008 – a winless streak of 28 games.

SJC freshman starter Ethan Smith (Hudson Oaks, Texas) gave up five runs on nine hits with eight strikeouts over 7.1 innings and falls to 2-3 on the season with the setback. Rivier freshman Brendan Ferris picked up the victory after tossing 1.1 innings of scoreless relief.

Senior Jackson Stanton (Saugus, Mass.) went 3-4 with a run scored and junior Luke Stephens (Glastonbury, Conn.) was 2-5 with a run and an RBI in the losing effort.

For Rivier, Boudreau went 3-4 with a pair of RBI while Gulezian and Zachary White chipped in with two hits apiece.

NEXT!

Saint Joseph's will host Husson University in a non-conference contest on Wednesday at 4:00 PM.

$website.include("/bp")