3/20/08 - Monks Earn Split Against Catholic University

Dustin Spiller '08

Wade Oliver '09

Luke Enman '08

Mason Roberge '11

Brian Schools '08

WASHINGTON, DC - St. Joe's fell 7-6 in 8 innings in game one and defeated the Cardinals 7-4 in game two. JR Wade Oliver (Owls Head, ME) had four hits in the doubleheader and SR Dustin Spiller (Gorham, ME) and SR Luke Enman (Milan, NH) each connected for home runs in the two game set. Freshman pitcher Mason Roberge (Franklin, NH) notched his first collegiate victory in the game two.

GAME ONE

BOXSCORE

The Monks offense was jumpstarted in the opening game with a leadoff triple from Wade Oliver, who went on to score on a sacrifice fly off the bat of SR Brian Schools (Gorham, ME) to provide St. Joe’s with an early 1-0 lead. The Cardinals countered in the first with a run of their own to tie the game, 1-1, after an error by the third baseman Schools.

St. Joe’s went up 2-1 in the top of the second inning when FY Eric LaBatte (Rochester, NH) drove home SO Pat Moran (Winterport, ME), who singled to reach base, by way of a sac fly. The Catholic offense scored two runs off of Monks starter SO Kyle Dorr (Berwick, ME), both unearned, to take a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the inning.

After a scoreless third inning, the Monks offense managed to put three runs on the board to capture a 5-3 advantage. SO Ben Grant-Roy (Biddeford, ME), SR Dustin Spiller (Gorham, ME) and Pat Moran accounted for the runs and FY Ian Lee (Hampden, ME), with a bases loaded walk, and SO Nick Johnson (Yuma, AZ), with a two-out single, registered RBI’s in the inning.

Luke Enman blasted a solo home run, his second of the season, over the right field fence to lead off the fifth inning and give the Royal Blue a 6-3 lead.

The Cardinals fought back in the bottom of the fifth to produce three runs off of four hits and tie the game at six apiece. The big hit of the inning was a two-run home run off the bat of Catholic third baseman Joe Devine.

Monks centerfielder Dustin Spiller made a spectacular catch for the first out in the bottom of the sixth. Catholic shortstop Joe Maca hit a ball deep to center over Spiller’s head, Spiller turned his back, sprinted towards the fence and with his back towards the infield dove to make the highlight reel catch.

The Catholic bullpen provided a solid effort as they allowed only two SJC baserunners in the final three innings of play. The Cardinals plated a run in the bottom of the 8th when designated hitter Robbie O’Brien drove home pinch runner Jeff D’Annuzio for the victory.

Starting pitcher Kyle Dorr threw four innings, scattered 5 hits, struck out two, allowed one walk and no earned runs in his third start of the season. FY Chris Dion (Lawrence, MA) pitched a scoreless 1 1/3 innings in relief. SJC closer Brian Schools takes the loss and falls to 0-2.

GAME TWO

BOXSCORE

The Cardinals opened the scoring in the second game of the twinbill with four hits and three runs in the first inning off Monks’ starter Mason Roberge. St. Joe’s shot back with two runs in the top of the third with RBI singles from Wade Oliver and Nick Johnson. FY Ryan Murphy (South Weymouth, MA) and SO Travis Adams (Saco, ME) scored the SJC runs to cut the CU lead to 3-2.

Monks shortstop Luke Enman led off the bottom of the third with a single and later scored when SO Ricky Sarmento (Lowell, MA) sent him home with a two-out single to tie the game, 3-3.

The Monks took a 5-3 lead in the top of the fifth when Dustin Spiller hit a towering two-run home run. The Cardinals chipped away at the SJC lead with a run in the bottom of the sixth to make the score 5-4.

The Monks added two insurance runs in the top of the seventh when SJC first baseman Ryan Murphy hit a seeing-eye single through the right side of the infield to send home leftfielder Pat Moran and pinch runner JR Stephan Gorsun (South Berwick, ME). St. Joe’s closer Brian Schools pitched a scoreless seventh to preserve the 7-4 victory and earn his second save of the season.

After a rough start, SJC hurler Mason Roberge settled in and threw four scoreless innings before allowing a Catholic run in the bottom of the sixth. Overall, Roberge allowed 3 earned runs, 8 hits, 1 walk and struck out 3 in 5 2/3 innings.

For the Monks, Wade Oliver was 2-4 with an RBI, Luke Enman 2-3 with 2 runs, Dustin Spiller registered 2 RBI’s and Ryan Murphy was 2-3 with a run and 2 RBI’s in the win.