Box Score Huskies Host Western Connecticut for Two on Friday
GORHAM, Maine -- Sophomore Dylan Hapworth (Winslow, Maine) blasted a two-run homer in the bottom of the fifth inning to snap a 3-3 tie and the University of Southern Maine Huskies went on to defeat the Saint Joseph's College Monks, 6-3, in a non-conference game Thursday afternoon at Ed Flaherty Field.
The win was the seventh straight, and the 10th in the last 11 games, for the Huskies and improved their overall record to 14-6. The Monks dropped their second straight to fall to 16-7 overall.
Heading into the home half of the fifth inning in a tie game, junior Jake Dexter (Oakland, Maine/Messalonskee) was hit by a pitch before Hapworth came to the plate. The second-year outfielder turned on a pitch from senior Travis Godbout (Portland, Maine) to hit a long home run over the left-field fence to give the Huskies a 5-3 lead. The home run was the fourth of the season for Hapworth.
The Huskies added an insurance run in the eighth inning on an RBI single from Dexter.
USM took a 2-0 lead in the second inning on an RBI single from sophomore Anthony Degifico (South Portland) and a costly two-base outfield error that allowed a second run to score.
Back-to-back doubles from juniors Joey Murphy (Derry, N.H./Pinkerton Academy) and Anthony DiPrizio (Rochester, N.H./Spaulding) in the third produced the Monks' first run. DiPrizio moved to third on a ground out and scored on a sacrifice fly from sophomore Will Martin (Arlington, Mass./Bridgton Academy) to tie the game at 2-2.
Dexter led off the Huskies' half of the third with a single and moved to second when Hapworth was hit by a pitch. Junior Devin Warren (Smithfield, Maine/Messalonskee) singled through the left side to score Dexter. Godbout escaped further damage getting a double play and a pop out to end the threat.
Saint Joseph's tied the game in the fourth when senior Chris Gerossie (Chester, N.H./Pinkerton Academy) drew a two-out walk from USM starting pitcher Joshua Joy (Smithfield, Maine/Messalonskee), stole second and scored on a single to center field from junior Jared Gagne (Dover, N.H.).
Dexter, Warren, Degifico and rookie Jason Komulainen (Gorham, Maine) had two hits apiece to lead the Huskies' 12-hit attack. Junior Noah McDaniel (Eliot, Maine/Marshwood) was the lone repeat hitter for the Monks.
Sophomore reliever Colton Lawrence (Farmington, Maine/Mt. Blue) earned his third win with 1.1 innings of scoreless relief work. Dexter earned his eighth save of the season getting the final five outs over two stints. Godbout was tagged with his first loss of the season after three wins. Godbout surrendered five runs (four earned) on seven hits and two walks while striking out one.
Southern Maine hosts Western Connecticut State University tomorrow (noon) for a Little East Conference doubleheader. Saint Joseph's host Anna Maria College for a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) doubleheader on Friday (3:30 p.m.).
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