TEANECK, N.J. ? The Monmouth University baseball team split a Northeast Conference doubleheader on Saturday afternoon at Fairleigh Dickinson, taking the first game 3-1, as freshman Ryan Buch (Yardley, Pa./Conwell Egan) improved to 6-0 on the season, but dropping the nightcap, 5-2. The split improves the Hawks' record to 21-12-1 overall, and 6-4 in the NEC.
Trailing 1-0 entering the sixth inning, after the Knights tallied a run in the third, the Hawks rallied for three runs to capture a 3-1 advantage.
Junior John Dennis (Union, N.J./Union) delivered a one-out double and scored on a Kyle Higgins (Green Brook, N.J./Watchung Hills) single through the right side to knot the score. Kyle Messineo (Cedar Grove, N.J./Cedar Grove) and Andy Meyers (Stratford, N.J./Sterling) then each singled, as Meyers drove in Higgins for the go-ahead run. Rick Niederhaus (Whitehouse Station, N.J./Hunterdon Central) then lifted a sacrifice fly to give the Hawks a 3-1 advantage.
After a leadoff walk by Buch opened the sixth frame, freshman Matt Frazier (Whippany, N.J./Whippany Park) entered and recorded three straight outs to maintain the 3-1 edge. Junior Justin Esposito (Red Bank, N.J./Middletown North) allowed two singles in a scoreless seventh frame to earn his fifth save of the season.
Buch worked 5.0 innings, surrendering one run on five hits, while striking out five en route to his sixth win of the year.
FDU jumped on Monmouth starter Brett Brach (Freehold, N.J./Freehold Township) for five runs in the bottom of the second frame in game two, en route to the 5-2 victory. The Knights tallied five runs on three hits, highlighted by a three-run triple by Matt Maher.
Monmouth trimmed the lead to three runs in the fifth when Messineo and Meyers each delivered two-out singles. After each stole bases to put two runners in scoring position, Niederhaus connected on a two-run single up the middle. The Hawks, trailing by three in the seventh, loaded the bases but were unable to capitalize in the 5-2 loss.
Messineo, who had three hits in game two, ended the day with four base hits and two stolen bases. Niederhaus and sophomore Mike Casale (Toms River, N.J./Toms River North) each had two hits in game two.
Brach (1-4) was saddled with the loss for the Hawks, as the freshman worked 6.0 full innings, allowing five runs on eight hits, while striking out four.
Monmouth and Fairleigh Dickinson play the final game of the Northeast Conference series on Sunday afternoon. First pitch is set for noon.
