Providence, R.I. – Kyle Turner hurled a complete game six-hit shutout as the Suffolk University Baseball team defeated Saint Joseph's College (Me.) 10-0 in Saturday's Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) semifinals.
With the victory Suffolk advances to a tenth consecutive conference championship game in hopes of claiming the program's sixth title and first-ever back to back NCAA appearance.
Suffolk opened the scoring in the top of the third as Sean Cameron doubled down the right field line with one out bringing home Matt Brenner from first for the game's first run. Following a groundout to short to move over Cameron, Rob Marks would reach on an infield miscue brining home another run staking Suffolk to the two run advantage.
A pair of walks with one out in the fourth followed by a bloop single to left off the bat of Kevin Belskie would load the bases before Brenner added a sacrifice fly to center bringing home another Suffolk run.
Suffolk would tack on two more in the fifth when Brady Chant opened the inning with an infield single. Marks would then lay down a sacrifice bunt back to the mound as the Monks tried to get the lead out at second. An errant throw into the outfield would roll all the way to the centerfield wall sending Chant home and Marks over to third. Later in the inning Marks would scamper home on a wild pitch making it 5-0 midway through the contest.
Brenner would add his second RBI of the day in the sixth when his base hit up the middle plated Drew Carter who opened the frame with a single of his own. Later in the inning, following an intentional walk to Chant, Marks would hit into a fielder's choice with the bases loaded scoring another run before Brenner scored Suffolk's second run of the day via the wild pitch to cap off the inning at 8-0.
Julien Plana would add an RBI pinch hit single in the ninth before a sacrifice fly to right from Carter later in the inning brought home another run capping the 10-run day for the Suffolk offense.
Chant finished the day 2-for-4 with two runs scored including a double in the ninth. Kevin Belskie also doubled in the game as he was 2-for-3 with a run scored. Both Brenner and Marks each scored a pair of runs.
Suffolk totaled nine hits in the victory.
The story of the day was Turner however who improves to a 4-2 record with the win. The senior righty punched out six hitters needing 126 pitches in the complete game effort.
The Monks were able to load the bases in the ninth posing a threat to spoil the shutout but Turner would retire the final out on a shallow fly to right to end the game for his second complete game of the season.
Both teams will meet again on Sunday afternoon as the Monks rallied in Saturday evening's elimination game thanks to a three-hit combined shutout by pitchers Travis Godbout and Corey McNamara over Lasell College 2-0.
Sunday's championship meeting will be eighth time the two programs meet with an NCAA automatic qualifier on the line since the 2008 season. St. Joe's has come away with six of those previous seven GNAC championships.