STANDISH — St. Joseph’s College won its ninth straight baseball game Tuesday night against Colby in an unusual fashion for a couple of reasons.

First, the Monks were in the unfamiliar position of trailing early in the game.

Second, both teams were forced to cope with an uncommon challenge – snow.

“I said to the guys, ‘Which white thing do you swing at?'” said St. Joseph’s Coach Will Sanborn. “But that’s baseball in Maine.”

After Colby College (2-9) jumped to a 3-0 lead in the first two innings, the Monks and the Mules exchanged leads twice before St. Joseph’s (12-5) scored six unanswered runs in the seventh en route to a 10-5 victory at Larry Mahaney Diamond.

“That was definitely one of our first times starting a game from behind,” said St. Joseph’s pitcher Josh Partridge. “Cold weather, especially with rain, snow – whatever this is – it makes it hard to grip the ball … I thought we all kept our composure and just played our nine-inning game.”

Pitching the last inning and a half, Partridge helped keep the Monks ahead despite Colby loading the bases in the top of the eighth following an Andrew Russell single and a pair of walks. With two outs, Partridge – who had replaced Marc Poirier with one out – struck out Tommy McGee looking.

Partridge ended the game by striking out Russell and Cam Drew following a groundout to second in the top of the ninth.

“Travis Godbout and Josh Partridge (who combined for seven of the Monks’ 14 strikeouts) pitched well out of the bullpen,” Sanborn said. “It’s kind of nice to see them (St. Joseph’s) come from behind and have a good win.”

Colby scored in the first inning when Keenan Iuliano hit a line drive single to center that scored Will Phillips, who had singled before stealing second. With one out and the bases loaded, the Monks got out of danger with a double play that ended the inning.

The Mules added two runs in the second. Tyler Mulberry led off with a double. After a soft liner by Matt Mitchell put Mulberry on third, Jackson Ward drove him in with a single to center. Phillips then scored Mitchell, reaching first on an error.

“We hit the ball well and we were a little more aggressive early in the game,” said Colby Coach Dale Plummer. “St Joe’s made a couple of mistakes that kept us in the game, and we capitalized.”

The Monks scored in the fourth after Ben Gravel walked and Jacob White was hit by a pitch. Will Martin then reached on a throwing error on a sacrifice-bunt attempt, scoring White and advancing Martin to second before White scored on Noah McDaniel’s groundout to the pitcher.

St. Joseph’s took a 4-3 lead with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth before Colby went ahead with two runs in the top of the sixth.

Down 5-4 entering the bottom of the seventh, the Monks immediately loaded the bases on singles by White and Martin, and Noah McDaniel reached on a fielder’s choice. With Patrick Rauseo pinch running for White and Hunter Richards running for Martin, Luke Johnson singled up the middle to score both runners. The Monks scored four more times before the end of the inning.

“I don’t think we ever got discouraged,” said Monks freshman Johnson. “It’s just crazy weather, crazy game. …

“I can’t feel my fingers.”

Taylor Vortherms can be contacted at 791-6417 or:

tvortherms@pressherald.com

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