LYNCHBURG, VA. ? Monmouth University dropped an 11-6 decision at Liberty University on Sunday afternoon, falling to 11-8-1 on the season, while the Flames improve to 18-12. After sweeping the Saturday doubleheader, the Hawks collected 13 hits in defeat.
In the first inning, Kyle Messineo (Cedar Grove, N.J./Cedar Grove) opened the contest up with his third triple of the season, and scored on a throwing error, to give the Hawks an early 1-0 lead. Monmouth tacked on another run in the second frame, when Brett Holland (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin) led off the inning with a double down the rightfield line. After a Messineo single put runners at the corners, a double-steal worked, as Holland crossed the plate, making the score 2-0.
Liberty trimmed the lead to 2-1 in the third inning, as a Garrett Young triple to right center, drove in David Giammaresi, who drew a leadoff walk from Monmouth starter Nick Vallillo (Old Tappan, N.J./Northern Valley Regional). The Flames claimed a 3-2 advantage by plating two runs in the home half of the fourth frame, as P.K. Keller lifted a bases loaded sacrifice fly to centerfield and Giammaresi delivered an RBI groundout.
Monmouth briefly knotted the score at 3-3 in the fifth inning when Messineo drew a one-out walk, and advanced to third on an Andy Meyers (Stratford, N.J./Sterling) single to center. Messineo came around on a Shawn Teters (Springdale, Ark./Springdale) infield single.
The Flames reclaimed a 4-3 advantage in the bottom of the fifth when Young homered to left off Vallillo, but Monmouth reliever Mike Reagle (Magnolia, N.J./Sterling) registered a strikeout and fly out to end the threat.
In the Monmouth seventh inning, John Dennis (Union, N.J./Union) and Messineo led off with singles, before a Kyle Higgins' (Green Brook, N.J./Watchung Hills) sacrifice bunt moved both runners into scoring position. Meyers, Teters and Rick Niederhaus (Whitehouse Station, N.J./Hunterdon Central) each singled to drive in runs, as the Hawks took a 6-4 lead, on five hits in the inning off Liberty starter Tyler Light.
Six runs on three hits, three walks and two hit-by-pitches allowed the Flames to regain the lead in the bottom of the seventh, as Liberty grabbed a 10-6 advantage. Liberty tacked on another run in the bottom of the eighth for the 11-6 final.
Vallillo went 4.1 innings, allowing four runs on six hits, while classmate Kyle Breese (Monmouth Junction, N.J./South Brunswick) was saddled with the loss, tossing 1.0 inning, allowing three runs on two hits.
Meyers went 4-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored to pace the Hawks, while Messineo went 3-for-3 with three runs atop the order.
Momouth returns to action on Tuesday, April 3, when the Hawks host Columbia at 3 p.m.
