STANDISH, ME – St. Joe’s (28-16) defeated Suffolk University (29-12) twice, 8-1 and 2-0, in a non-conference doubleheader on Thursday afternoon to wrap up the team's regular season schedule. SO Ben Grant-Roy (Biddeford, ME) and JR Wade Oliver (Owls Head, ME) both connected for two-run home runs in the opener with FY Mason Roberge (Franklin, NH) picking up the victory in relief to improve to 6-2 this season. In the nightcap, SO Andrew Keirstead (Westbrook, ME) tossed a complete game two-hitter with six strikeouts and no walks to earn his sixth victory of the year and Grant-Roy and FY Todd Keneborus (Hollis Center, ME) both registered two hits in the triumph.

GAME ONE

Suffolk and St. Joe’s exchanged runs in the second frame of the opener with Rams shortstop JR Paul Vittozzi (North Reading, MA) and Monks catcher SR Andrew Wood (South Portland, ME) both notching RBI singles to knot the game, 1-1.

SR Dustin Spiller (Gorham, ME) led off the fourth with a ground-rule double to right-center and later scored on a wild pitch from Rams ace SR Steve Durant (Malden, MA) to give the Monks a 2-1 lead.

After Oliver singled and SR Brian Schools (Gorham, ME) reached on an error, SR Luke Enman (Milan, NH) stepped to the plate and doubled both runners home and Grant-Roy followed with a two-run blast high over the left field fence to provide his team with a 6-1 lead after five innings of play. Grant-Roy’s home run was his seventh of the season and tied him for the team lead with Enman.

FY Eric LaBatte (Rochester, NH) led off the sixth with a single and later scored when Oliver sent a deep fly ball over the right field wall for his fourth home run of the year to give the Royal Blue an 8-1 advantage.

Starter SO Kyle Dorr (Berwick, ME) worked three innings and allowed 3 hits, one walk and no earned runs. Roberge tossed 3.1 innings and allowed two hits and reliever SO Chris Nanof (Clinton, MA) fanned both batters he faced to close out the game in the seventh.

Oliver recorded two hits and two RBI’s and LaBatte was 2-3 in the win. Enman and Grant-Roy both collected 2 RBI’s in the game.

For Suffolk, starter Steve Durant allowed 7 earned runs and 11 hits while striking out 5 SJC hitters and falls to 6-4 on the season. Vittozzi was 2-2 with an RBI in the loss.

GAME TWO

The Suffolk batters were unable to figure out SJC starter Andrew Keirstead in the nightcap game as the Rams registered just two hits and could not muster a scoring threat. The crafty southpaw was in control the entire game and allowed only one runner, in the second inning, to reach third base.

The Monks provided Keirstead with all the run support he would need in the third inning as Oliver doubled to send home Keneborus, who opened the frame with a single, and later scored on a Grant-Roy single to put the Royal Blue up by a pair, 2-0.

Keirstead rolled in the final four innings, allowing just two baserunners to reach, to give the Monks a 2-0 victory and a sweep over the Rams. The complete game bid was Keirstead’s team-high fourth of the season.

Keneborus and Grant-Roy both went 2-3 at the plate and SJC second baseman Brian Schools notched a double in the victory.

Suffolk starter JR Dan D’Elia (Boston, MA) falls to 7-3 on the season after allowing 8 hits, 2 earned runs and 2 walks while striking out 5 in the complete game effort. Designated hitter SR Nick Martinho (Middleton, MA) and catcher SO Bobby Barrett (Milton, MA) recorded the Rams’ only hits, both singles, in the loss.

The Monks await word early next week on who they will play in the NCAA Tournament, which is scheduled for May 14-18.