NEWARK, N.J. ? Monmouth registered a season-high 26 runs, highlighted by three home runs, in a 26-5 victory over NJIT on Sunday afternoon, at Bears and Eagles Riverfront Stadium. The Hawks (7-8) collected a season-high 24 hits, to earn their fifth straight victory.
Monmouth, which scored 19 runs twice a season ago, last scored 20 runs in a game when the Hawks posted a 35-1 win at Temple in 2006. Freshman Nick Pulsonetti and senior Andy Meyers led the Monmouth attack, as each drove in five runs in the game. Pulsonetti, who had nine RBI in the three-game series, went 5-for-6, while Meyers, freshman Ryan Terry and junior Brett Holland added three-hit outings.
The Hawks jumped out with three runs in the first frame, when Paul Bottigliero delivered a two-run double down the rightfield line, plating Kyle Higgins and Meyers. Monmouth's next batter, Pulsonetti, put the Hawks ahead 3-0 with his RBI single to center.
NJIT made the score 3-2 in the home-half of the first, off Monmouth starter Brett Brach, when back-to-back singles and a double steal put two runners in scoring position. An error allowed leadoff hitter Craig Binkiewicz to score, and Matt Schlitter's sacrifice fly made it a one-run game.
The Highlanders took a 4-3 lead in the second, knocking Brach from the game when Chris Cardone connected on a two-run homer to right.
The Hawks responded by scoring 15 runs over the next two innings to take an 18-4 lead.
In the third inning, Meyers connected on a two-run homer, his first of the season, to start the scoring. Pulsonetti's first career triple then plated Bottigliero, who was hit by a pitch for the sixth time in the last three games, to give Monmouth a 6-4 advantage. Rick Niederhaus and Higgins added run-scoring singles, which was followed by Terry's first career homer, a two-run shot to center, putting Monmouth ahead 11-4.
The Hawks tacked on seven runs in the fourth frame, as John Dennis and Meyers registered RBI singles, and Pulsonetti jacked a three-run homer to left, giving the Blue and White an 18-4 cushion.
Monmouth went ahead 24-5 in the eighth, which was highlighted by freshman Steve Sanguiliano's first career hit and run scored, while Brett Holland and Bobby Dombrowski each delivered two-run singles.
The Blue and White, behind two-out singles from Pulsonetti and Sanguiliano and a Chris Collazo walk, loaded the bases before Holland registered a two-run double down the left field line, putting the Hawks ahead 26-5.
Monmouth used seven pitchers in the game, as Brach worked 1.1 innings, allowing four runs on five hits in his third start of the year. The Hawks' bullpen combined to allow just three hits and one run in 7 2/3 innings of work, which included just one infield single in the final four frames.
Tim Ballard, who relieved Brach, earns the win after working 2.2 shutout innings. The junior, now 1-0 on the season, surrendered no hits, while striking out three batters.
Sanguiliano, who went 2-for-2 with two runs scored, also pitched a hitless eighth inning, with a punchout. Justin Esposito struck out the side in the ninth to preserve the win.
With his five RBI, Meyers moved into a tie for fourth place all-time with 156 career runs driven in, in Monmouth history. Meyers and Pulsonetti each drove in five runs, while Holland added four RBI and Higgins added three. Fittingly, Meyers' two-run home run in the third inning of the game on Sunday, was the senior's 200th career hit, making him the eighth player in Monmouth history to reach 200 career base hits. Meyers now has 202 career hits, which ranks eighth all-time, while Joe McCullough (1995-98) tops the list with 247 career hits.
Monmouth returns to action on Tuesday, April 1, when the Hawks host Princeton at 3:30 p.m.
