KISSIMMEE, Fla. – Saint Joseph's College (1-5) split a pair of contests in the Sunkissed Games on Wednesday. The Monks opened with an 8-0 setback at the hands of Montclair State University and salvaged the split with a mercy-rule victory of their own, toppling Penn. State-New Kensington, 10-0, later in the day.

GAME ONE – Montclair State 8, Saint Joseph's 0 (5 inn.):

The Monks found themselves in a 5-0 hole after the first inning and fell on the wrong side of the mercy rule when the Hawks plated three runs off four hits in the bottom of the fourth.

St. Joe's mustered just four hits and did not advance a baserunner past second base in the first game of the day.

IN THE CIRCLE:

Junior Kristal Smith (Pittston, Maine) took the loss after allowing eight runs (seven earned) off seven hits and five walks in four innings.

OFF THE BAT:

• Sophomore second baseman Libby Pomerleau (Limerick, Maine) was 1-3 with a stolen base

GAME TWO – Saint Joseph's 10, Penn. State-New Kensington 0 (5 inn.):

Leading 2-0 after the first inning, the SJC offense exploded for six runs off seven hits in the second frame to claim an 8-0 advantage. Pomerleau plated a pair with a triple, sophomore third baseman Kaylee Burns (Saco, Maine) produced a two-run double, while Meghan Elliott (Mendon, Mass.) and Maizie Lee (Saco, Maine) knocked in a run apiece with singles to put the game out of reach.

Junior first baseman Melodie Bailey (Lebanon, Maine) and Pomerleau notched RBI singles in the third and fourth innings, respectively, to account for the 10-0 final.

IN THE CIRCLE:

Sophomore Kate Whitney (Jonesboro, Maine) earned the victory after scattering three hits with six strikeouts in four innings while freshman Madeline Wood (Madison, Maine) struck out one in a perfect inning of relief.

OFF THE BAT:

• Pomerleau was 4-4 with three runs, a triple, and three RBI
• Bailey went 2-2 with a run, a double, and a pair of RBI
• Lee added two hits, a run, and an RBI in three at bats
• Freshman catcher Makayla Cooper (Fryeburg, Maine) was 2-2 with a run scored

NEXT!

Saint Joseph's returns to action tomorrow, facing Emerson College at 9:00 AM and Bluffton at 1:30 PM.

$website.include("/sports/boiler_plate")