STANDISH, Maine -- The Bates baseball team scored three times in the sixth inning to take the lead for good on their way to a 7-5 win over Saint Joseph's on Wednesday in a non-conference game between the two Maine schools. 

With the game tied at one, senior Ben Genser (Newton, Mass.) got the offense going for the Bobcats (5-13) against Saint Joseph's reliever Andrew Keniston (0-1) in the top of sixth with a single through the left side. Junior Gibby Sullivan (Yarmouth, Maine) followed with a single to center and senior captain Brandon Biggane (Rensselaer, N.Y.) singled home Genser to make the score 2-1 in favor of Bates. 

Sullivan moved to third on a passed ball and Genser stole second to put two runners in scoring position. First-year David Swift (Yarmouth, Maine) followed with a grounder to first. The Monks threw home and got Sullivan for the first out of the inning. With runners now at the corners, another passed ball allowed Genser to score and Bates led 3-1. 

The Monks (10-12) brought in reliever Luke Wearne and junior Liam Yardley (Keene, N.H) greeted him with a single to left, driving in Swift for a 4-1 lead.

With Bates up by three, sophomore Keagan Ryan (Salem, N.H.) led off the top of the seventh and provided some insurance, blasting his second home run of the season. Both his long balls this year have come against the Monks.

Now up 5-1, the Bobcats appeared to be rolling to an easy win when they scored two more in the top of the ninth. Senior Ben Gesmondi (Narragansett, R.I.) led off with a walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Ryan drew a walk as well, putting two on with nobody out. A ball in the dirt allowed both runners to move up, and the Monks threw the ball away down the left field line. Gesmondi came around to score, extending the lead to 6-1. Sophomore Luke Yoon (Honolulu, Hawaii) singled home Ryan for the seventh run of the game for the Bobcats.

Now up by six, the lead seemed to be safe for Bates. But the home team made a go at a rally, scoring four times in the bottom of the ninth. A home run, two walks, and a single loaded the bases with two outs. Then a costly error by the Bobcats allowed two runs to score, making the score 7-4. Vinny O'Leary doubled in another run, and the Bobcat lead was down to two, with the tying runs in scoring position at second and third.

However, first-year Charlie Cariello (Bedford, N.H.) came up huge, striking out Jake Carlisle looking to end the game. 

The Bobcats tallied nine hits in the contest to just six for the Monks. Bates got on the board first in the top of the first inning. Ryan got hit by a pitch to start the game and promptly stole both second and third base. Genser drove him in with an RBI grounder. The Monks answered right away in the bottom of the first when Jared Wilhelm led off with a solo home run.

That would be all the offense for either side until the top of the sixth, as the pitchers took over for a bit.

Bates senior Ian McAslan (Baltimore, Md.) started the game on the mound for Bates and tossed three innings, giving up just the lone run on two hits, striking out two. Sophomore Kenny Carlisle (South Portland, Maine) relieved McAslan and was outstanding, going three shutout innings. Carlisle (1-1) picked up the win, allowing just one hit and striking out four. Senior Matthew Shrake (Chicago, Ill.) tossed a scoreless seventh and first-year Charlie Bushley (Cohasset, Mass.) delivered a scoreless eighth. Cariello had his struggles in the ninth, but eventually locked down the victory for Bates.

Genser and Sullivan tallied two hits apiece to pace the Bates offense, while Ryan scored three times and made his one hit count with his lead-off homer in the seventh. 

Bates is back in action Thursday when the Bobcats welcome Dean College to town for a 3 p.m. first pitch at Leahey Field.