WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. ? The Monmouth University baseball team swept a Northeast Conference doubleheader from Sacred Heart on Friday afternoon, as the Hawks won game one, 3-0, and the second game, 3-2. The sweep improves the Hawks' record to 30-18-1 overall and 14-8 in the NEC. The second victory also ties a school record for wins in a season.
In game one, freshman Ryan Buch (Yardley, Pa./Conwell Egan) and junior Justin Esposito (Red Bank, N.J./Middletown North) combined for a one-hitter, en route to a 3-0 victory. Buch improved to 8-1 on the season, by throwing 6.2 innings, allowing one infield single, with six strikeouts. Esposito earned his seventh save on the year, by striking out pinch-hitter Jamie Morales with the bases loaded, in the seventh.
Monmouth scored all three runs in the fifth inning, as Brett Holland (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin) delivered a one-out RBI single, driving in Chris Collazo (Wall, N.J./Wall), and Kyle Higgins (Green Brook, N.J./Watchung Hills) connected on a two-run double.
The Hawks netted three earned runs off Sacred Heart starting pitcher, Jay Monti (8-3), who entered the game leading the NCAA in ERA (0.81). Monti worked 6.0 innings, allowing three runs on five hits, with nine strikeouts.
In the nightcap, Shawn Teters' (Springdale, Ark./Springdale) grounder to the shortstop in the sixth inning, which was misplayed, allowed Andy Meyers (Stratford, N.J./Sterling) to score from third with the winning run, in a 3-2 contest.
Esposito worked a scoreless seventh inning, in relief of freshman Brett Brach (Freehold, N.J./Freehold Township), with two strikeouts, to pick up his second save of the afternoon, and eighth overall. Brach tossed 6.0 innings, scattering five hits and surrendering two runs to pick up the win and improve his mark to 3-5.
Higgins led off the second game with a triple to rightfield and came home on a Kyle Messineo (Cedar Grove, N.J./Cedar Grove) single to center for the early 1-0 lead.
In the third inning, Meyers connected on his team-leading ninth homer of the year, a solo shot to right, to give the Hawks a 2-0 cushion.
Sacred Heart trimmed the lead to 2-1 in the fifth inning when Jason Maiella singled on a bunt, the Pioneers first hit of the game, and scored on Morales' triple. SHU knotted the score at 2-2 in the sixth when Steve Tedesco and Jovan Rodriguez each singled to lead off the frame. Jeff Hanson delivered a one-out single to tie the contest.
Rob Tencza (5-4) was saddled with the loss in game two, tossing 6.0 innings, allowing three runs on seven hits, with four strikeouts.
Monmouth and Sacred Heart play the final game of the NEC series on Saturday afternoon, with first pitch at noon.
