STANDISH, Maine - #21 Saint Joseph’s College (13-5) defeated Curry College (4-6-2), 11-3, in a non-conference baseball contest at Larry Mahaney Diamond on Thursday afternoon.

Sophomore starting pitcher Alex Valenti (Lawrence, Mass.) fanned a career-high nine batters while allowing two runs off five hits and a walk over seven innings to improve to 2-0 on the season.

Senior second baseman Brandon Chase (Naples, Maine) led the offensive charge from the #8 hole, going 3-5 with two runs, a double and a pair of RBI and freshman center fielder Tim Beaudette (Uxbridge, Mass.) was 3-5 with a double and an RBI in the convincing victory. Sophomore left fielder Nic Lops (South Portland, Maine/Cheverus) went 2-4 with a run, a two-bagger and two RBI and freshman shortstop Zack Graham (Marlborough, Mass.) added two hits, two runs and a pair of RBI in five at bats for the hosts.

Sophomore Dan Meeken (Marshfield, Mass.) allowed a hit and fanned one batter in a scoreless eighth inning and freshman hurler Corey McNamara (West Newbury, Mass.) allowed an unearned run in an otherwise clean ninth frame.

Senior right fielder Sam Barron (Hadley, Mass.) was the Colonels’ lone repeat hitter and went 2-3 with two runs and a solo home run. Sophomore first baseman Tanner Givens (Hamden, Conn.) belted a solo blast for the visitors in a losing effort.

Senior starting pitcher Corey Pierro (Essex, Mass.) suffered the loss for the Colonels after allowing five runs (two earned) off six hits and three walks in three innings. Junior Matt O’Neill (Milton, Mass.) gave up two runs off two hits and a walk with one strikeout in three frames of relief while freshman John Arens (Milton, Mass.) and freshman Angel Rosario (Southbridge, Mass.) combined to surrender four runs off six hits and a walk in the closing two innings.

Saint Joseph’s continues play with a GNAC doubleheader at Anna Maria College beginning at 12:00 PM on Saturday. Curry hosts Johnson & Wales University tomorrow in a 3:30 PM start.