LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J. ? The Monmouth University baseball team dropped a 12-6, non-conference contest at Rider on Tuesday afternoon, as the Broncs recorded 17 hits. The loss drops the Hawks' overall record to 22-13-1, while Rider improves to 13-19 overall on the year, snapping a six-game losing streak to the Hawks.
Monmouth's Kyle Messineo (Cedar Grove, N.J./Cedar Grove) gave the Hawks an early 1-0 lead, as the senior connected on his team-leading seventh home run, a lead-off roundtripper, to leftfield.
The Broncs knotted the score in the bottom of the first, when Adam Tussey singled and later scored on an error. Rider tacked on five runs in the second inning, on five hits, to take a 6-1 advantage. In the frame, Garrett Rugg, Tussey, Sean Olson and David Hayes each delivered RBI singles.
The Blue and White trimmed the lead to 6-3 in the third inning, as John Dennis (Union, N.J./Union) and Messineo led off the frame with singles. After Brett Holland (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin) successfully sacrificed both runners into scoring position, Kyle Higgins (Green Brook, N.J./Watchung Hills) delivered an RBI-groundout, and Rick Niederhaus (Whitehouse Station, N.J./Hunterdon Central) singled.
Rugg led off the fourth for the Broncs with a single and advanced to third on a Maurice Williams' single to right. Rugg crossed the plate, giving Rider a 7-3 edge, when Tussey lifted a sacrifice fly to centerfield for his second RBI.
In the sixth, the Hawks loaded the bases behind three consecutive, one-out singles by Niederhaus, Chris Collazo (Wall, N.J./Wall) and Mike Casale (Toms River, N.J./Toms River North). Justin Braun (Stony Brook, N.Y./St. John the Baptist) then delivered a single to left to plate Niederhaus, which was followed by Rob Williams' (Franklin, N.J./Pope John) first career RBI, as the designated hitter lifted a sacrifice fly, cutting the lead to 7-5.
Five Rider hits and a Monmouth error allowed the Broncs to score five runs in the home half of the sixth, to claim a seven-run lead, 12-5. The Hawks tacked on a run, cutting the lead to 12-6 in the top of the seventh, when Holland laced a one-out double, stole third, and came home on a Higgins' groundout.
Messineo went 2-for-5, with two runs scored in the leadoff spot for the Hawks, while Niederhaus and Casale each collected two hits as well.
Freshman Kyle Breese (Monmouth Junction, N.J./South Brunswick) was saddled with the loss in his third career start, falling to 2-4 on the season. The rookie worked 3.1 innings, allowing seven runs on eight hits, while striking out two batters. Sophomore Tim Ballard (Parlin, N.J./Sayreville) worked 2.0 frames, surrendering five runs on seven hits, with two punchouts, while senior Mike Reagle (Magnolia, N.J./Sterling) worked the final 2.2 innings, allowing no runs on two hits.
The 17 hits for Rider tied a season-high allowed in a game by Monmouth pitching.
Monmouth returns to action on Wednesday, when the Hawks host Seton Hall in a non-conference game in West Long Branch. First pitch is set for 3:30 p.m.
