ORLANDO, FLA. ? The Monmouth University baseball team pounded out 17 hits, en route to a 13-4 victory at UCF on Sunday afternoon, at Jay Bergman Field. The Blue and White, who registered seven runs in the ninth inning, highlighted by an Andy Meyers (Stratford, N.J./Sterling) grand slam, won two-of-three against UCF over the weekend. With the win, the Hawks improve to 2-1, while the Golden Knights fall to 6-9.
Over the three-game series, the Hawks recorded 30 runs on 40 hits, while surrendering eight earned runs.
In the second inning, the Hawks strung together four hits to start the scoring, as Mike Casale (Toms River, N.J./Toms River North) led off with a single down the leftfield line. Casale then advanced to second on a Kyle Messineo (Cedar Grove, N.J./Cedar Grove) single, and catcher John Dennis (Union, N.J./Union) reached on a throwing error while placing down a sacrifice bunt to third base, loading the bases.
Brett Holland (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin) then singled, driving in the Hawks' first run, before Kyle Higgins (Green Brook, N.J./Watchung Hills) lifted a sacrifice fly and Chris Collazo (Wall, N.J./Wall) singled, making the score 3-0.
UCF answered with two runs in the bottom of the second when Kyle Maulbetsch delivered a bases loaded, two-out single through the right side off Monmouth starter Nick Meyers (East Brunswick, N.J./East Brunswick), trimming the lead to 3-2.
Monmouth manufactured three runs in the top of the fourth frame when Messineo led off with a single, and advanced to second when Dennis drew a walk. After a Holland sacrifice put both runners in scoring position, a wild pitch allowed Messineo to cross the plate. Higgins then delivered a single to plate Dennis. Collazo then added a single up the middle to drive in Higgins, making the score 6-2.
The Golden Knights trimmed the lead to 6-3 in the home half of the seventh inning off reliever Kyle Breese (Monmouth Junction, N.J./South Brunswick) when Eric Kallstrom doubled, driving in Brandon Romans, who led off with a single.
MU poured on seven runs in the top of the ninth as Dennis and Higgins each registered run-scoring singles, Messineo walked and stole third and home, and Andy Meyers (Stratford, N.J./Sterling) connected on a grand slam to right, putting the Hawks ahead 13-3.
The top four hitters in the Monmouth lineup produced as the quad of Higgins (4-for-5), Collazo (2-for-4), Andy Meyers (2-for-4) and Rick Niederhaus (Whitehouse Station, N.J./Hunterdon Central) (2-for-5) combined for 10 of the Hawks' 17 hits. Messineo and Holland had two hits apiece.
Sophomore Nick Meyers earned his first career win, in just his second career start, as the lefty worked 6.0 innings, scattering nine hits, while allowing just two runs. Freshman Brett Brach (Freehold, N.J./Freehold Township) threw the final two innings, surrendering one run on three hits, while striking out two, to earn his first save.
Monmouth returns to action on Monday, March 5, when the Hawks take on St. Bonaventure in Boca Raton, Florida. First pitch is scheduled for noon.
