Monks
Drop a Pair to WPI
Baseball - Saint Joseph's College
March 8, 2010
By Corey McCarthy
WINTER HAVEN, FL -
Saint Joseph's fell to 2-2 on the young season after
suffering a pair of one-run losses to Worcester
Polytechnic Institute (4-0) on Monday afternoon. For
the day, Chris Campbell '11 (Rochester, NH) went 5-8
with four runs and two RBI and Todd Keneborus '11
(Hollis Center, ME/Cheverus) was 5-8 with three
runs, two doubles, a triple, and four RBI.
In the opener, St.
Joe's held a 2-1 lead heading into the third inning
when the Monks' offense produced 10 runs off nine
hits and three WPI errors to go up 12-1. The
Engineers responded by scoring seven runs in the
bottom of the third and plated five more in the
fifth; all the while silencing the SJC bats en route
to a 13-12 triumph.
The Monks' chance at
achieving a comeback triumph of their own came in
the nightcap, as the Engineers led 7-1 halfway
through the fourth frame. St. Joe's scored three in
the fourth, two in the fifth and one in both the
sixth and seventh innings, but the rally effort came
up a run short with WPI completing the sweep by
edging the Monks, 9-8.
After scoring 10 runs
in a single inning, the Monks' bats went cold, as
the Royal Blue failed to score again in each of the
subsequent six innings and recorded just five hits,
while striking out seven times and grounding into a
double play thrice, during those frames.
Overall, St. Joe's
used eight pitchers in the two games, with four
making their collegiate debut. Jimmy Kennedy '13
(York, ME) proved to be the most effective of the
rookie hurlers, as the righty allowed one hit and a
walk with a punch out over the final 2 2/3 innings
of the closing contest.
GAME ONE
Keneborus opened the
game scoring with a two-out, two-RBI triple to
right-center. Campbell, who doubled, and Ben
Grant-Roy '10 (Biddeford, ME), who reached via hit
by pitch, scored on the play.
Freshman right hander
Chad Rafferty (Keene, NH) started for the Monks on
the hill in the first game, and the highly-touted
rookie saw his very first college offering deposited
over the left field fence by WPI leadoff hitter Mark
Dignum '10 (Albany, NY). Despite the precarious
start, Rafferty settled in by whiffing five of the
next six batters while his lineup provided plenty of
punch with a 12-1 cushion.
The fireworks provided
by the Monks in the third was highlighted by Mike
Pratt's '13 (Dartmouth, MA) first career home run, a
three-run blast to left off WPI starter Alex Hansen
'10 (Burlington, CT). Pat Moran '10 (Winterport, ME)
produced a two-run single and Grant-Roy plated a
pair in the big inning. Keneborus, Adams and Nate
Martin '13 (Chebeague Island, ME), who registered
his first NCAA hit and stolen base, all drove home
single runs during the onslaught.
For Rafferty, the long
layoff during the Monks' hit parade may have had a
negative effect, as the first-year hurler registered
just one out before being chased in the bottom of
the third inning. After allowing five runs,
including a two-run longball to Matt Moreau '10
(Manchester, NH), Rafferty was lifted in favor of
Adam Stanclift '13 (Chesterfield, NH), who fanned
three and managed to stop the bleeding for the most
part over the next 1 2/3 innings.
Chris Dion '11
(Lawrence, MA) and Sean Drake '13 (Lebanon, NH)
worked the fifth frame and combined to allow five
runs off four hits and a pair of SJC miscues. Andrew
Keirstead '10 (Westbrook, ME) tossed a scoreless
sixth, but St. Joe's was unable to must any offense
in the team's final four turns at the plate.
For St. Joe's,
Grant-Roy was 2-3 with three runs and two RBI and
Eric LaBatte '11 (Rochester, NH) went 2-4 with a run
scored. Dion was hit with the loss with four runs
allowed in 1/3 inning of relief.
For WPI, Joe Walsh '10
(Weymouth, MA) was 3-3 with two runs and two RBI and
Mike Swanton '10 (Foxboro, MA) was 3-4 with two
runs. Hansen surrendered 11 earned runs over 2 1/3
innings and reliever Forrest Dwyer '12 (Winthrop,
ME) picked up the victory after tossing 2 2/3
scoreless innings for the Engineers. Thomas Whiting
'10 (Farmington Hills, MI) collected the save with
two strikeouts in a scoreless seventh inning of
work.
GAME TWO
Righty Kevin
Chamberlain '11 (Scarborough, ME) took the mound for
the Monks in the nightcap and got off to a good
start, but the Engineers manufactured a pair of runs
with two out in the top of the second to take a 2-0
lead.
Chamberlain was chased
in the third, as WPI managed to plate three more to
gain a 5-0 cushion off a two-run single by John
Flynn '12 (Albion, ME) and an RBI base knock by Cody
McGregor '10 (Westfield, MA). Keirstead came on in
relief once again and closed the door by inducing a
Bryan Watkins '11 (Belmont, MA) groundout.
Craig Woodbrey '10
(Gorham, ME) notched a one-out single in the bottom
of the third and later scored on a sac fly by Danny
Achorn '12 (Bow, NH) to make it a four-run game, but
Moreau hit a two-run home run to right field off
Keirstead in the top of the fourth to put his team
up 7-1.
The Monks put up a
three-spot in their next turn, with Woodbrey belting
a two-run double down the right field line and
Campbell registering an RBI base hit to make it a
7-4 game. The Engineers responded with two runs in
the fifth, with both being charged to first-year
right hander Tyler Laverriere (Biddeford, ME), who
was making his first collegiate appearance.
Kennedy came on in
relief for Laverriere and managed to keep the
Engineers off balance for the remainder of the game.
The Monks plated a pair in the fifth and added
another in the sixth to make it a 9-7 game. The
Royal Blue may very well have won the second game if
not for an outstanding basket catch by WPI center
fielder Cody McGregor. With runners on first and
second, Keneborus lifted a booming blast to dead
center, but McGregor sprinted towards the fence and
caught the ball over his right shoulder just before
the wall.
In the bottom of the
seventh, Campbell drove home Kyle Neagle '12 (Lisbon
Falls, ME) with a chopper to short to cut the WPI
lead to 9-8 and cap the game scoring.
For the Monks,
Woodbrey was 2-4 with a run and two RBI and Nick
Saunders '13 (Brooksville, ME) was 2-4 with a run
and a double. Chamberlain was hit with the losing
decision after allowing eight hits and four earned
runs in 2 2/3 innings.
For WPI, Moreau was
2-4 with two runs and two RBI, Flynn went 2-3 with
two runs and two RBI and Nick Bean '12 (Middleboro,
MA) went 3-4 with a run scored. Starting pitcher
Kyle Boucher '11 (Manchester, NH) earned the win
after allowing three earned runs and six hits in
four innings.
Tuesday is the Monks'
off-day, as the Royal Blue will swing back into
action on Wednesday with a twinbill against Loras
College at 12:30 PM. WPI will play Eastern Nazarene
on Tuesday at 9:00 AM.
###
WPI 13, St. Joseph's
(Me.) 12 (3/8/2010 at Winter Haven, Fl)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
St. Joseph's (Me.)..
20(10) 000 0 - 12 15 2 (2-1)
WPI.................
107 050 X - 13 15 3 (3-0)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Pitchers: St. Joseph's
(Me.) - Chad Rafferty; Adam Stanclift(3); Chris
Dion(5); Sean Drake(5); Andrew Keirstead(6) and
Travis Adams. WPI - Alex Hansen; Forrest Dwyer(3);
Jason Forte(6); Thomas Whiting(7) and Joe Walsh.
Win-Forrest Dwyer(1-0)
Save-Thomas Whiting(1) Loss-Chris Dion(0-1) T-2:22
A-0 HR SJMBB - Mike Pratt (1).
HR WPI - Mike Dignum
(1); Matt Moreau (1).
Weather: Sunny
Stanclift faced 1
batter in the 5th.
WPI 9, St. Joseph's
(Me.) 8 (Mar 08, 2010 at Winter Haven, Fl)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
WPI.................
023 220 0 - 9 12 7 (4-0)
St. Joseph's (Me.)..
001 321 1 - 8 11 2 (2-2)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Pitchers: WPI - Kyle
Boucher; Brian Schopka(5) and Joe Walsh. St.
Joseph's (Me.) - Kevin Chamberlain; Andrew
Keirstead(3); Tyler Laverriere(5); Jimmy Kennedy(5)
and Ian Lee; Travis Adams.
Win-Kyle Boucher
Loss-Kevin Chamberlain(0-1) T-5:50 A-0 HR WPI - Matt
Moreau.
Weather: Sunny
