Monks Edge Pride in Pair of GNAC Matchups

STANDISH, Maine — The Regis College softball team made the trip north this morning to take on Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) foe Saint Joseph's College of Maine for a midday doubleheader, where the Monks got the best of the Pride, 7-2 in game one and 7-0 in game two, dropping Regis to 5-18 overall and 2-7 in GNAC play.

Game One, Regis 2-7 Saint Joseph's (Maine)

Regis struck early in Game 1, as Sydney Grund and Francesca Licata opened the contest with back-to-back singles before Mel Rees brought Grund home with an RBI single up the middle to give the Pride an early 1-0 lead.

However, the Monks responded in the bottom of the second with an RBI double to tie the game, followed by a big swing from Makayla Quintal, who delivered a two-run hit to highlight a four-run inning for the home team.

The Monks added to their advantage two innings later, plating two more runs on a single to left-center to extend the lead to 6-1.

Regis looked to spark a rally in the sixth, starting with a double to left-center from Lynsey Kay. Gabby Blanchard followed with a sacrifice bunt to move her into scoring position, and Grace Motto drove her in with a single down the right-field line. However, the Pride were unable to build further momentum, as Saint Joseph's College of Maine's defense secured the next two outs to end the threat.

The Pride had one final push in the seventh, as Sydney Grund reached on a walk and advanced to third on a single from Francesca Licata. A double play stalled the rally, and although a pinch-hit walk briefly extended the inning, the Monks closed it out with a strikeout to secure a 7-2 victory.

Game Two, Regis 0-7 Saint Joseph's (Maine)

The Monks opened the game with nearly identical first and second innings, stringing together three hits in each frame and bringing home two runs in both to take an early 4-0 advantage.

Saint Joseph's looked to add more in the third after a Kryslin Stearns double and a passed ball moved her to third. However, Mya Gaspie and Grace Motto helped limit the damage, as a strikeout from Gaspie and a putout from Motto stranded Stearns at third.

Over the next two innings, both Francesca Licata and Gaspie reached via hits, but the Pride were unable to capitalize as they remained off the scoreboard.

The Monks broke things open in the fifth, as Stearns connected on a triple before Bella Napolitano-Aberie drove her in with a double. Napolitano-Aberie would later come around to score the third run of the inning and the seventh of the game.

That would prove to be the final run, as Saint Joseph's secured the doubleheader sweep with a 7-0 victory, as both teams were held scoreless over the final two innings.

Inside the Numbers

• Grace Motto also had a breakout showing in Game 1, finishing 3-for-3 with an RBI for the first three-hit game of her career. She added pressure on the bases as well, swiping three bags.
• On the day, Francesca Licata delivered a strong offensive performance, going 5-for-6 at the plate to extend her hit streak to six games.
• Lynsey Kay recorded her sixth double of the season which currently stands as the most on the team.

Up Next

The Pride have a quick turnaround with another road trip on Sunday, April 12, traveling to Franklin, Massachusetts, to take on the Dean College Bulldogs.