Baseball Splits GNAC Twin Bill at Saint Joseph’s College of Maine on Sunday

GAME ONE | USJ 7, SJC 5 (SEVEN INNINGS)

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Saint Joseph's struck first in the bottom of the third inning, scoring four runs to take a 4–0 lead.
• USJ responded in the fourth, stringing together RBI singles from junior outfielder Joseph Fritz (Tampa, Fla.), senior infielder JJ Fox (Killingworth, Conn.), and sophomore infielder Jack Kane (West Hartford, Conn.) to cut the deficit to 4–3.
• The Monks added a run in the bottom half of the inning on a solo home run by Michael Richards to extend the lead to 5–3.
• The Blue Jays answered in a big way in the sixth, plating four runs to take control. Fox reached on a fielder's choice, allowing junior infielder Tyler Carlstrom (Rocky Hill, Conn.) to score and make it 5–4. Later in the inning, freshman infielder Sam Balducci (South Windsor, Conn.) delivered an RBI single to tie the game at 5–5.
• Moments later, senior infielder Ryan Shaw (Ellington, Conn.) came through with a clutch two‑run single to left field, scoring Kane and senior outfielder Ryan Quinn (Middletown, Conn.) to give the Blue Jays a 7–5 lead they would not relinquish.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Kane paced the offense with a four‑hit performance, adding an RBI and a run scored.
• Fox, Balducci, Carlstrom, and Fritz each recorded multi‑hit games.
• Sophomore pitcher Marcus Tarfano (Southington, Conn.) earned the win in relief, notching his GNAC‑leading sixth save of the season.

GAME TWO | SJC 10, USJ 6

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Monks opened the scoring in the second inning with an RBI double from Michael Richards to take a 1–0 lead.
• Saint Joseph's extended the advantage in the third after a defensive miscue allowed another run to score, making it 2–0.
• USJ got on the board in the fourth when senior outfielder Dom Scalia (Northford, Conn.) lined an RBI single to left field, scoring Kane to cut the deficit to 2–1.
• A two‑run home run from Jake Carlisle in the fifth extended the Monks' lead to 4–1.
• SJC broke the game open in the eighth inning, erupting for six runs to take a 10–1 advantage.
• The Blue Jays mounted a late rally in the ninth, scoring five runs. The inning was highlighted by RBI singles from Shaw and Carlstrom, followed by a pinch‑hit three‑run home run from sophomore infielder Alex Zimmerman (Middle Haddam, Conn.) — his first of the season — to cut the deficit to 10–6. The comeback attempt fell short, however, as the Monks held on to secure the split.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Fox led the offense with two hits.
• Zimmerman drove in a team‑high three RBI.
• Kane, Quinn, Shaw, Jack Kushman, Carlstrom, and Zimmerman each recorded at least one hit and scored a run.

UP NEXT

The Blue Jays return to the diamond on Wednesday, April 15, traveling to Vassar College for a midweek non‑conference matchup. First pitch between USJ and the Brewers is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. at Prentiss Baseball Field in Poughkeepsie, N.Y.

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