Baseball Takes on St. Joseph’s (Maine) in GNAC Championship Contest

MAY 6 | 12:00 PM  LARRY MAHONEY DIAMOND STANDISH, MAINE LIVE STATS | VIDEO
Series Record - Suffolk Trails, 22-27 Last Meeting - April 28, 2018, W, 8-6 Last Suffolk Win - Same Streak - W3 Eyes on the Game

BOSTON – The three-time defending GNAC Champions, Suffolk baseball, has one more opponent to go through to hoist the conference crown for the fourth consecutive campaign, second-seed Saint Joseph's (Maine). The Rams are set to defend their title at 12:30 p.m. versus the Monks at Larry Mahoney Diamond in Standish, Maine. 

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THE SCHEDULE

First Round – Wednesday, May 2 (Single Elimination)

GAME 1: #4 Lasell defeated #5 Norwich, 16-3
GAME 2: #3 Johnson & Wales defeated #6 Anna Maria, 27-13 

Second Round – Thursday, May 3 (Double-Elimination Begins)
GAME 3: #3 Johnson & Wales defeated #2 Saint Joseph's (Maine), 9-5
GAME 4: #1 Suffolk defeated #4 Lasell, 6-5 (10 Innings)

Semifinals – Saturday, May 5 (Hosted by Saint Joseph's (Maine))
GAME 5: #2 Saint Joseph's (Maine) defeated #4 Lasell (Elimination Game), 9-5
GAME 6: #1 Suffolk defeated #3 Johnson & Wales, 7-6
GAME 7: #2 Saint Josephs (Maine) defeated #3 Johnson & Wales  

Championship – Sunday, May 6 (Hosted by Saint Joseph's (Maine))
GAME 8: #2 Saint Joseph's (Maine) vs. #1 Suffolk – 12:00 PM - Live Stats - Video
GAME 9: If Necessary – 3:30 PM

LAST TIME OUT
The top-seeded Suffolk baseball team rallied a comeback with three runs in the bottom of the eighth, while Ryan Pordesshoved on the hill to hold off No. 3 Johnson & Wales, 7-6, in the GNAC semifinals Saturday afternoon at Larry Mahoney Diamond. 

MORE READING: Championship Bound: Baseball Holds off JWU, 7-6, in GNAC Semis

RAMS RUNDOWN
Suffolk has reached the championship for the 12th straight season as the Rams have showed composure throughout the tournament, scoring when it needs to and commanding its competition at the plate.  

Brady Chanthas continued his leadership role with the senior centerfielder's offensive out of 55 hits and 32 RBI coming off a .359 average with 34 runs scored and 22 stolen bags. Classmate Seth Coiley(.328, 42 H, 18 RBI, 26 R) and freshman Blasé Cormier(.308, 40, 23 RBI, 22 R) are both batting over .300 to be consistent contributors for the Rams at the dish.  

Suffolk's staff has had a standup year as its starting rotation has handled its conference counterparts. Kevin Sinatra(2.65 ERA, 54.1 IP, 32 Ks) handled the quarterfinals, while Ryan Pordes(5.43 ERA, 59.2 IP, 47 Ks) shoved the semifinals. Jake Flax(1.00 ERA, 9.0 IP, 11 Ks) closed each contest, which leaves Mark Fusco(2.68 ERA, 43.2 IP, 34 Ks), Charles Batchelder(3.61 ERA, 57.1 IP, 35 Ks) and Tyler Zell(2.68 ERA, 36.0 IP, 26 Ks) in the rotation. 

SUFFOLK IN THE GNAC TOURNEY
In its 19th straight GNAC appearance, the Rams advanced out of the quarterfinals into the winner's bracket semis for seventh consecutive season and 12th time overall.  

Thanks to its eighth-inning rally in the semis versus Johnson & Wales, Suffolk advanced to the championship contest for the 12th straight season and 17th time overall. The Rams have never missed a title tilt under Anthony Del Prete.  

In the quarterfinals, Suffolk needed extra time in the league's postseason for just the fourth time (4-0).  

Overall, the Rams are 13-2 in the GNAC Tourney in the Del Prete era and 49-21 in the conference tournament overall. 

MONKS MENTIONABLES
St. Joe's (29-12) worked its way out of the loser's bracket as it eliminated Lasell, 9-5, and Johnson & Wales, 3-2, for the final spot in the championship contest.  

Jared Gagne is the top threat at the dish for the Monks with 48 hits on a .403 average for 25 RBI and 30 runs scored. Will Martin, who is batting .385, is also a consistent contributor with 25 hits, 10 RBI and 16 runs scored. Jacob White (.366, 41 H, 17 RBI, 13 R) and Joey Murphy (.333, 47 H, 22 RBI, 29 R) also provide a puncha t the plate.  

SJC has seen a hectic week with six games over six days including a pair yesterday and one on Thursday, using multiple arms. This season Jonathan Marchia has been one of the Monks top arms, holding a 2.05 ERA through 22.0 innings with 19 strikeouts. Josh Partiride is the go-to closer for St. Joe's with 39.2 innings of work with a 2.27 ERA and 48 strikeouts. Matt Demma (2.78 ERA, 32.1 IP, 32 Ks), and Zach Begin (3.11 ERA, 46.1 IP, 47 Ks) are also starters for the Monks. 

INSIDE THE SERIES
Suffolk swept St. Joseph's (Maine) for the first time since 2008 to chip away at St. Joseph's all-time series lead, 287-22. 

WE MEET AGAIN
In game one, Steven Shamnoskirocked a two-RBI, go-ahead homer to send Suffolk baseball past SJC, 8-5. In the closer, the Rams lock up the GNAC regular season title with an 8-6 win over the Monks.  

MORE READING:Baseball Dings St. Joseph's (Maine), 8-5| Baseball Secures Regular Season GNAC Crown, Defeats St. Joe's 8-6

SUFFOLK VS. ST JOSEPH'S (MAINE) IN GNAC TOURNEY
The Rams and Monks are no strangers in the GNAC postseason, meeting 18 times. Overall, Suffolk trails the tournament tilts with SJC, 6-12. 

Overall, 11 of the 18 meetings between the foes have come in the championship with Suffolk winning the title against the Monks in 2009 and 2016. 

EYES ON THE GAME

ON DECK
The GNAC Championship receives the conference's automatic bid into the 2018 NCAA Division III Tournament.