SALEM, Mass. – Saint Joseph's College split a non-conference softball doubleheader at Salem State University (8-5) on Wednesday afternoon, edging the Vikings 4-3 in the opener before dropping a 4-3 decision in eight innings in the nightcap.
The Monks jumped out early in game one and got a complete-game effort from senior Miranda Northrup (Whitefield, Maine), but Salem State rallied in the bottom of the eighth to walk off the second game and earn the split.
GAME ONE – Saint Joseph's 4, Salem State 3
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Saint Joseph's came out quickly and scored three times in the top of the first, taking advantage of three walks and a Salem State error. The Monks added another run in the second when freshman Kiera Gabric (Hampden, Maine) doubled and later scored on a wild pitch for a 4-0 lead.
Salem State got back into the game with one swing in the bottom of the fourth, when Ellie Kleinheinz blasted a three-run homer to trim the margin to 4-3. That was all the Vikings could get, however, as Northrup kept the hosts off the board the rest of the way and retired Salem State in order in the seventh to seal the win.
IN THE CIRCLE:
Saint Joseph's:
Salem State:
- Alanis Toledano (L, 3-2) – 1.0 IP, 2 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 4 BB, 1 K
- Gracie Martineau – 6.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 11 K
IN THE BOX:
Saint Joseph's:
- Kiera Gabric – 1-for-4, R, 2B
- Olivia Thomas (Belgrade, Maine) – 1-for-4, R, 2B
- Kryslin Stearns (Concord, N.H.) – 1-for-3, RBI, BB, 2B
- Makayla Quintal (Gorham, Maine) – 1-for-3, RBI, 2B, SB
- Bella Napolitano-Aberle (Portland, Maine) – RBI, BB
- Sadie Tirrell – 2 BB, R, SB
Salem State:
- Kleinheinz – 1-for-3, R, 3 RBI, HR
- Abigail LaClair – 1-for-3, R
- Tara Perryman – 1-for-3
- Alaina Giuliano – 1-for-1, BB
GAME TWO – Salem State 4, Saint Joseph's 3 (8 inn.)
HOW IT HAPPENED:
The Monks broke through first in the top of the third, as Quintal tripled and came home on a two-out RBI single by Thomas. Salem State pulled even in the sixth on an unearned run and the game remained tied through seven innings.
Saint Joseph's grabbed the advantage in the top of the eighth. With the international tiebreaker in effect, freshman Jaylah Trottier (Biddeford, Maine) scored on a sacrifice fly by Gabric and Thomas followed with an RBI double. Senior Sadie Tirrell (Naples, Maine) then doubled home Thomas to give the Monks a 3-1 cushion.
Salem State answered in the bottom half. Giana Johanson doubled in a run, another run scored on a wild pitch, and Paige Souza delivered the game-winning single with two outs to complete the walk-off victory.
IN THE CIRCLE:
Saint Joseph's:
Salem State:
- Charlie Benesh (W, 4-1) – 8.0 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 4 K
IN THE BOX:
Saint Joseph's:
- Olivia Thomas – 3-for-4, R, 2 RBI, 2B
- Makayla Quintal – 2-for-3, R, 3B
- Sadie Tirrell – 1-for-4, RBI, 2B, SB
- Jayden Sullivan (Hancock, Maine) – 1-for-3
- Kiera Gabric – RBI, SF
Salem State:
- Johanson – 1-for-4, R, RBI, 2B
- Souza – 1-for-1, RBI, BB, HBP, SB
- LaClair – R, 3 BB
- Toledano – 1-for-4
- Frost – BB, SB
HISTORICALLY SPEAKING:
With the split, Saint Joseph's now holds an 11-4 edge in the all-time series with Salem State.
NEXT!
Saint Joseph's returns to action on Thursday, March 26th, when the Monks play at the University of Southern Maine in a doubleheader beginning at 3:30 PM in Gorham.
