Standish, ME - The Saint Joseph's College softball team swept Husson College 2-1 and 9-8 in their home opener today. The Monks improve to 5-9 overall.

Sophomore standout Gabrielle Burrola (Gallup, NM) hurled a career-high 13 strikeouts in game one and is 3-4 on the season. Burrola began the game by striking out the side and the Monks looked strong in the bottom of the inning with one out and bases loaded but Husson's JR Ashlee Paschal (Jefferson, NH) pitched her way out of the inning.

Burrola struck out two more batters in the second and FY Anna Willis (Gorham, ME) put the Monks up 1-0 with an RBI single in the bottom of the inning. Eagles SO Jenny Rollins (Corinth, ME) tied the game with a home run in the 5th and a double by JR Jordan Pruett (Manchester, ME) threatened the Monk lead but Burrola struck out her 11th batter to get out of the inning.

In the bottom of the 6th, FY Liddy van der Linden (Worcester, MA) ripped her second double of the game and SR Amanda Roy (Winslow, ME) moved her to third with a single. SO Kim Bechard (Lewiston, ME) hit into a fielder's choice to score van der Linden and the Monks held on for the win.

Rollins went 2/3 for the Eagles and Roy and van der Linden were 2/3 for the Monks.

Senior captain Colleen Delahanty (Warren, ME) took the mound for game 2 and SR catcher Tessa Grindle (Brooksville, ME) made a great defensive play in the first, throwing out FY Jenika Kelly (Livermore, ME) at third as she tried to advance on a passed ball.

The Eagles took a 5-0 lead in the second, thanks to some clutch hitting by SO Shannon Pietras (Chester, ME) and a 2 RBI double by SO Nikita Colgan (Swanton, VT).

The Monks got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the third as Burrola hit an RBI double and scored off a van der Linden single to make it 5-2. With bases loaded, FY Jillian Kimball (Albany Twp., ME) was robbed of an extra base hit by Rollins to end the inning.

The SJC offense continued to work in the fifth, loading the bases and plating another run on a single by SO Aly Ludwig (Waldoboro, ME). Two batters later, van der Linden drove in two more runs to tie the game. Roy followed with a single to put the Monks up 6-5.

Husson knotted the game with an RBI double by Pruett and took the lead after a single by FY Brittni Adams (Bucksport, ME). Adams went on to score and make it 8-6 in favor of the Eagles.

The Monks regained control in the sixth after two walks and an infield single put runners on and Burrola cleared the bases with a double for a 9-8 advantage. Burrola returned to the mound to close out the final inning for St. Joe's.

Sophomore Michelle Mulherin (Milo, ME) was 2/3 with 3 RBI and JR Shawna Bell (Corinth, ME) and Pruett went 2/4 for the Eagles. St. Joe's was led by Burrola (2/4, 4 RBI), Ludwig (3/4, 1 RBI) and Willis (2/3).

The Monks return to action on Tuesday, 4/3 in a 3:00 p.m. doubleheader at Thomas College.