The Suffolk University Softball team hosted the St. Joseph's College of Maine Monks in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) double header this afternoon. Both teams participated in the Coaches vs. Cancer event wearing pink and white warm up shirts in support of cancer awareness. The Rams were defeated by the Monks in game one 8-6 and dropped game two 5-4.
This defeat drops the Rams to 4-12 overall and 0-4 in conference play. The Monks improve to 12-2 overall and 4-0 in GNAC action.
Game 1
The Monks started off early in the first inning when Danica Gleason (South Portland, Me.) doubled to left center and brought in an RBI to put the Monks up 1-0. Theresa Hendrix (Scarborough, Me.) singled and brought Connie Grovo (Limington, Me.) home to bring the score to 2-0. Junior Sarah Chasses (Salem, Mass) retired the Monks last batter to close out the top of the first.
In the bottom of the second sophomore Meredith Ball (Nahant, Mass.) homered bringing in two RBI to tie the game 2-2.
The top of the third the Monks took advantage of a Suffolk error and had the bases loaded. Megan Pollini (Wolfeboro, N.H.) singled to center field brining in two RBI to put the Monks back on top 4-2. Carla Tripp (Lovell, Me.) was hit by a pitch to earn an RBI and have the Monks close out the top of the third 5-2.
The bottom of the fourth the Rams offense was looking to get on the board. Senior Nikki Cignarella singled and then stole second base. Junior Nicole Rosa (Wallingford, Conn.) singled to bring Cignarella home to close the gap 5-3.
Top of the fifth the Monks Kim Jordan (Bangor, Me.) doubled through the left side brining in two RBI widening the gap to 7-3. Jordan was caught stealing third base with great defense from the Rams. Top of the sixth the Monks score their final run when Melissa Mayhew (Hiram, Me.) singled to center field and brought Hendrix home for an 8-3 score.
The Rams offense turned it on the seventh inning when senior Erin McAndrews (Marblehead, Mass.) doubled to bring Chasse home. Freshman Anna Grace Maggs (Schenectady, N.Y.) got an RBI to get Young across home plate. McAdrews rounded out the inning to score on a passed ball to put the Rams just out of reach 8-6.
This win gave the Monks head coach Jamie Smyth her 400th career win.
Game 2
The Monks came out strong in the first two innings to put the game at a 4-0 advantage over the Rams. In the top of first Gleason singled to right field to bring Jordan across home plate. With the bases loaded Hendrix reached on a fielder's choice and brought Grovo home to put the Minks up 2-0. Top of the second Grovo singled and advanced to second on the throw to have Jordan score. Lindsay Moore (Barrington, N.H.) doubled through the left side to have Gorvo cross home plate and round out the inning with a 4-0 score.
The Rams defense held strong and went for a three and out at the top of the third and held the Monks scoreless until the seventh inning. The Rams offense heated up at the bottom of the fifth. McAndrews reached on the fielder's choice to have freshman Emily Martel (East Hartland, Conn.) cross home plate to get the Rams on the board 4-1. Maggs got up to the plate and homered to bring in three RBI to tie the game 4-4.
The Rams were unable to hold the Monks in seventh when Gleason hit a home run to right field to put the game out of reach for the Rams. The Rams were held scoreless at the bottom of the seventh for the 5-4 loss.
The Rams are back in GNAC action on Sunday hosting Anna Maria College in a double header at 1:00pm and 3:00pm. The Monks are traveling to Johnson and Wales for a GNAC double header on Sunday at 3:00pm and 5:00pm.