LANTANA, FLA. - The Monmouth University baseball team collected 15 hits, highlighted by freshman Tim McEndy's pinch-hit, three-run double in the eighth inning, en route to a 9-7 victory over Penn State on Monday afternoon at the Santaluces Complex in Lantana, Florida. The win improves Monmouth's record to 2-5, while the Nittany Lions of the Big Ten Conference fall to 3-5 overall.
Sophomore Kyle Breese (1-1) picked up the win for the Hawks, tossing 4.1 innings, allowing two runs on one hit and three total walks. The lefty also struck out four batters in relief of Monmouth starter Ryan Buch, who lasted 4.0 innings, surrendering five runs.
Monmouth opened the scoring in the first inning, as Chris Collazo's RBI single plated Andy Meyers for the 1-0 lead.
Penn State answered with two runs in the bottom of the second and three more in the third frame, to grab a 5-1 lead. The Nittany Lions took the four-run advantage behind four hits, two walks and a wild pitch off Buch.
The Hawks netted two runs in the fourth inning, as John Dennis registered a sacrifice fly, plating Nick Pulsonetti, and Kyle Higgins' RBI single brought Mike Casale home. Monmouth retook the lead, 6-5, with three more runs in the top of the fifth, when Pulsonetti delivered a two-run bases loaded double, and Matt McEndy's bases loaded groundout plated a third score.
Holding the 6-5 advantage in the eighth, Tim McEndy's double pushed the Hawks' edge to 9-5, scoring his brother Matt, who led off the frame with a single, Shawn Teters and Meyers.
Penn State mounted a one-out rally in the ninth, when Wes Borden walked and Rick Marlin followed with a double to right centerfield, knocking Breese out of the game. Sophomore Brett Brach struck out his first batter, but allowed a two-run double to Louie Picconi, which brought the Nittany Lions within 9-7. Brach induced a groundout to end the threat, picking up his first save of the year, and third of his career.
Higgins and Meyers led the Monmouth offensive attack with three hits each. Pulsonetti and Matt McEndy added two hits apiece, as the Hawks recorded a season-high 15 base knocks.
Mike Lorentson (1-2) was saddled with the loss for Penn State, allowing six earned runs on 12 hits, in 7.0 innings of work. Paul Hawkins, who entered the game to start the eighth inning and surrendered the game-winning hit, worked one frame. Mike Pierce pitched a scoreless ninth for the Nittany Lions, keeping PSU within striking distance.
Monmouth returns to action on Wednesday, March 12, when the Hawks take on Florida Atlantic in Boca Raton, Fla. First pitch is set for 7 p.m.
