PHOTO CREDIT: David Bates Photography

AUBURNDALE, Fla. – Saint Joseph's College (3-7) split a non-conference doubleheader in RussMatt Central Florida Invitational baseball action on Friday afternoon. The Monks tipped the Rams in 10 innings, 5-4, in the opener and fell short on a comeback bid, 7-6, in the nightcap.

SAINT JOSEPH'S 5, SUFFOLK 4 (10 INN.):

The Monks trailed by a 4-1 margin going into the bottom of the fifth when sophomore catcher Michael Richards (Melrose, Mass.) doubled and scored on a Dylan Brander (Merrimack, N.H.) base hit. Richards brought his team one run closer when he plated senior Matt Thibault (Nashua, N.H.) with a sac fly in the sixth and St. Joe's tied the game in the seventh when senior Dawson Gundlah (York, Maine) ripped an RBI double to right field.

With the bases loaded and one out in the bottom of the 10th, the Monks walked off when senior Luke Stephens (Glastonbury, Conn.) grounded into a potential double play but beat the throw at first base as junior Alex Moore (Henniker, N.H.), who led off the inning with a single, crossed the plate for the winning run.

ON THE MOUND:

• Sophomore starter Padraig Mac Seain (Brookline, N.H.) allowed four runs off six hits with three strikeouts in five innings
• Thibault entered the game in the sixth inning and tossed five innings of two-hit ball with one walk and five strikeouts over five frames to earn his second career victory
• For Suffolk, Garret Roberts yielded three runs (two earned) on five hits with nine K's in six innings and reliever Gregory Kaufman took the loss after allowing two runs on five hits in 3.2 innings

OFF THE BAT:

• Brander was 3-4 with an RBI
• Moore went 3-5 with a run and a double
• Gundlah doubled and was 2-3 with an RBI
• Richards went 1-2 with two runs, a double, and an RBI
• For Suffolk, Max Martin and Sam Armbruster notched two hits apiece

SUFFOLK 7, SAINT JOSEPH'S 6:

Facing a 3-0 margin through three innings, Saint Joseph's tied the game in the top of the fourth when, with two out and the bases loaded, Moore delivered a three-run double to right-center.

The Rams put up a crooked number with two out in the bottom of the sixth, when Alex Sorenti-Burns was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and Max Iorio lofted a three-run triple down the right field line, making it a 7-3 game.

The Monks rallied with three runs on two hits in the top of the seventh, when freshman Vinny O'Leary (North Quincy, Mass.) produced an RBI double and Brander notched a two-run single, but ultimately fell short.

ON THE MOUND:

• Sophomore starter Ethan Smith (Hudson Oaks, Texas) allowed three runs on six hits and three walks with six strikeouts in four innings
• Freshman Josh Wieners (Duxbury, Mass.) took the loss after giving up three runs on two hits and two walks with three K's in 1.2 innings
• Senior Morgen Doughty (Smithfield, R.I.) allowed a run on one hit without getting an out and junior Anthony Sayers (Benoni, South Africa) struck out the only batter he faced
• Suffolk starter Pierce Salbego went the distance, allowing six runs on seven hits and three walks with nine punchouts

OFF THE BAT:

• Brander was 2-4 with a run and two RBI
• O'Leary went 2-4 with a double and an RBI
• Moore was 1-3 with a three-run double
• For Suffolk, Garret Roberts and Max Iorio notched three hits apiece and Sorenti-Burns went 2-4 with a run, a double, and four RBI

NEXT!

Saint Joseph's returns to New England and will play a doubleheader at Mitchell College at 12:00 PM on Saturday, March 23rd.

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