WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. ? The Monmouth baseball team completed its four-game Northeast Conference series sweep of Quinnipiac, with a 4-1 victory over the Bobcats on Sunday afternoon. Monmouth, which 23-9 overall and 11-1 in the NEC, has now been victorious in 21 of its last 22 games, including its last six outings.
Monmouth went ahead in the second inning when Nick Pulsonetti led off with a single, advanced to second on Chris Collazo's groundout, and crossed the plate when Ryan Terry doubled down the left field line. The Hawks pushed the lead to 2-0 when Terry stole third and trotted home as Michael Marmo's throw got away from John Delaney. MU took a 3-0 advantage on Kyle Higgins' run-scoring double to the left field gap.
With two out, and runners at the corners in the top of the seventh inning, Tim Ballard surrendered a single to Bryn Doyle, which pulled the Bobcats within 3-1. After Delaney singled to load the bases, Kyle Breese came in to face Pete Kummerfeldt, who grounded out to Higgins, who made the play from the right side of the second base bag.
Terry singled to left field to start the home half of the seventh inning, and advanced to second on a Brett Holland sac bunt, on a full count. After a failed pickoff attempt allowed Terry to move to third, John Dennis singled to right center, to make the score 4-1.
Brett Brach (3-1) worked 6.2 innings, allowing just one run on five hits, with four strikeouts, to earn the victory for Monmouth.
Justin Esposito, who was called on to get the final six outs for the Hawks, tossed two shutout innings, allowing just one infield single, to earn his seventh save of the year.
Terry went 2-for-2 with two runs scored and an RBI for Monmouth, while Higgins and Dennis each added RBI hits.
Joe Duffy (1-4) worked a complete game for Quinnipiac, allowing four runs on six hits. Quinnipiac falls to 8-24 overall and 3-9 in NEC action.
In the final two games of the series, Monmouth pitching allowed just one earned run to QU.
Monmouth returns to action on Tuesday, when the Hawks travel to Lawrenceville, New Jersey for a non-conference game at Rider. First pitch is set for 3:30 p.m.
