STANDISH, Maine - The Polar Bear bats came alive on Monday as the Bowdoin baseball team earned a solid non-conference win over St. Josephs, 9-4. The Polar Bears improve to 14-8 this season while the Monks drop just their third game of the season and fall to 21-3.

First-year Sam Canales led the way with three hits, including a home run for the Polar Bears. Tim McGarry had three hits and three RBI while Luke Regan had a double and a homer for the visitors.

Bowdoin jumped to an early lead thanks to a three-run second inning highlighted by Regan's solo shot and Canales' first collegiate home run. The Polar Bears tacked on another run in the third when Jordan Edgett doubled and came home on a Danny Findley single to make it 4-0.

The Monks rallied for four runs in the bottom of the third to tie the game, but Bowdoin rebounded in the top of the fourth when McGarry ripped a two-run double to left that gave the Polar Bears a 6-4 edge. McGarry earned another RBI on a single in the sixth and came home to score on a balk in the ninth.

Erik Jacobson earned his first collegiate win on the mound by navigating a difficult St. Joseph's lineup for five innings, permitting four earned runs and striking out three. Jay Loughlin got the save with four innings of excellent relief, allowing no runs and striking out three.

Bowdoin will return to action this weekend with a key three-game NESCAC East Division series at Trinity. The Polar Bears and Bantams will open with a nine-inning contest on Friday starting at 3:00 p.m.