Orlando, Fla. - Monmouth University (1-0) tallied a five-run sixth inning, en route to a season-opening 7-4 win at UCF on Friday night, at Jay Bergman Field. The Hawks, who registered 12 hits, posted its first season-opening win since 1995, as junior Kyle Higgins (Green Brook, N.J./Watchung Hills) and sophomore Mike Casale (Toms River, N.J./Toms River North) combined for seven hits, while freshman Brett Brach tossed 4.0 hitless innings to earn his first career win.

Monmouth pushed a run across in the second innning, as Casale singled to rightfield, driving in sophomore Rick Niederhaus (Whitehouse Station, N.J./Hunterdon Central), who led off the inning with a walk.

The Golden Knights (5-8) responded with a four-run fifth frame to take a 4-1 lead, as UCF recorded four runs on three hits and three Monmouth errors.

The Blue and White answered the UCF rally with five runs in the top of the sixth inning to reclaim the lead, as Higgins led off with a single and scored on an Andy Meyers (Stratford, N.J./Sterling) single through the right side. With the bases loaded, senior Justin Braun (Stony Brook, N.Y./St. John the Baptist) registered a run-scoring infield hit, which preceeded Casale's two-run double, making the score 5-4. Junior John Dennis (Union, N.J./Unioon) capped the rally with a run-scoring groundout.

"The guys showed a lot of character to come back after that bottom of the fifth," said head coach Dean Ehehalt.

The Hawks posted an insurance run in eighth inning as junior Shawn Teters (Springdale, Ark./Springdale) led off with a walk and advanced to third after a Braun sacrifice and a throwing error by the pitcher on a pick-off attempt. Teters crossed the plate when Casale laced his second double of the game, while driving in his fourth run.

"Today was a total team win," added Ehehalt. "It was a great effort and Brach was phenomenal."

Senior Matt Coulson (Freehold, N.J./Freehold Boro) made the start for the Hawks, working 4.2 innings, allowing three unearned runs on five hits. Junior Justin Esposito (Red Bank, N.J./Middletown North) tossed one-third of an inning, before Brach worked the final 4.0 frames, allowing no runs and no hits, while striking out two to earn the victory in his first collegiate appearance.

Monmouth returns to action on Saturday, March 3, as the Hawks take on UCF in game two of the three-game set at Jay Bergman Field. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m.