TEANECK, N.J. ? The Monmouth University baseball team scored runs in all but one inning and rallied from a 5-2 deficit, to register a 19-8 victory at Fairleigh Dickinson on Sunday afternoon. The win improves the Hawks' record to 22-12-1 overall, and 7-4 in the NEC.
The Hawks, who tied a season high with their 19 run output, trailed 5-2 after three frames. Monmouth outscored the Knights 16-0 over the next four and a half innings to grab a commanding 18-5 edge.
Rick Niederhaus' (Whitehouse Station, N.J./Hunterdon Central) sacrifice fly accounted for the Hawks' first run of the contest, giving Monmouth an early 1-0 lead in the first inning.
The Knights touched up Monmouth starter Matt Coulson (Freehold, N.J./Freehold Boro) for two runs in the bottom of the first, as Zachary Sand connected on a two-run homer to centerfield.
Monmouth knotted the score at 2-2 in the top of the third, when Mike Casale (Toms River, N.J./Toms River North) connected on an RBI double to right, but FDU retaliated with a three-spot in the home half of the third to claim the 5-2 advantage.
Trailing 5-4 entering the sixth, after a fourth inning, run-scoring single from Andy Meyers (Stratford, N.J./Sterling) and an unearned run in the fifth frame, the Hawks posted six runs in the sixth to go ahead 10-5. In the inning, Meyers delivered another RBI single, before Justin Braun (Stony Brook, N.Y./St. John the Baptist) laced a three-run homer to dead centerfield. Three batters later, Kyle Higgins (Green Brook, N.J./Watchung Hills) delivered a two-run double.
MU went ahead 12-5 in the seventh as Casale was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and Brett Holland (Pittsburg, Pa./Baldwin) lifted a sacrifice fly. The Hawks then netted six more runs in the eighth, highlighted by a two-run homer from Meyers, a two-RBI single from John Dennis (Union, N.J./Union) and Higgins' second two-run double of the game, for the 18-5 lead.
FDU tallied two scores in the eighth off Monmouth reliever Matt Frazier (Whippany, N.J./Whippany Park) before Monmouth's Frank Catalano (Manasquan, N.J./St. Rose) delivered a pinch-hit sacrifice fly for his first career RBI in the ninth, and a 19-7 lead.
The Knights netted a lone run in the ninth off Mike Reagle (Magnolia, N.J./Sterling).
Meyers went 4-for-5 with four RBI and four runs scored, while Higgins drove in four with three hits in the leadoff spot for the Hawks. Kyle Messineo (Cedar Grove, N.J./Cedar Grove) and Casale each scored three runs.
Coulson evened his record at 2-2 with the win on Sunday, as the senior worked 7.0 innings, allowing five runs on eight hits, while striking out a career-high seven, with no walks. Frazier worked 1.0 frame, while Reagle allowed one run with two punchouts in the bottom of the ninth.
Monmouth returns to action on Tuesday, as the Hawks travel to Lawrenceville for an in-state battle with Rider. First pitch is set for 3:30 p.m.
