JERSEY CITY, N.J. ? Monmouth upped its current win streak to eight straight games, as the Hawks defeated Saint Peter's 12-5 on Wednesday afternoon. The victory improved Monmouth's overall record to 25-9.
Monmouth, which has won 23 of its last 24 games, collected double-digit hits for the sixth time in its last seven outings, as the Hawks pounded out 18 hits, including a three-hit day from Andy Meyers, who made his first career start in left field. Both Kyle Higgins and Ryan Terry drove in four runs apiece, on two hits each, for the Hawks.
The Hawks posted six runs in the top of the first as Higgins led off with a solo home run, his second homer in the last two games. In the frame, Rick Niederhaus added an RBI single, Terry cranked a three-run home run to left, and Higgins rounded out the scoring with a sacrifice fly, giving Monmouth a 6-0 lead.
SPC's Kevin Kallert pulled the Peacocks within 6-1 in the bottom of the second, when he delivered a leadoff home run to left off Monmouth starter Kyle Breese.
Monmouth went ahead 8-1 in the third, as Higgins connected on a two-run double to center field, plating Tim McEndy and Brett Holland.
Terry's RBI double, which scored Paul Bottigliero, who led off the fourth with a double, gave the Hawks a 9-1 lead.
The Peacocks strung together four hits and scored two runs in the bottom of the fourth, to make the score 9-3.
The Hawks notched three more runs in the top of the sixth to go ahead 12-3, as Bottigliero delivered an RBI double, Niederhaus connected on a run-scoring single, and Cal Costanzo's infield single, with the bases loaded, pushed the lead to nine runs.
SPC notched single runs in both the eighth and ninth frames to account for the 12-5 final.
Breese worked 4.0 frames for Monmouth, in his fifth start of the season. The sophomore allowed three runs on eight hits, with five strikeouts.
John Dennis, in just his second career appearance on the mound, allowed just one hit in 1.2 scoreless innings. Tim Dexter worked 1.1 scoreless frames without allowing a hit. Andy McDonnell and John McDonald rounded out the pitching appearances for the Blue and White, each surrendering a single run on a hit apiece.
Monmouth returns to action on Friday, when the Hawks open a four-game NEC series at Central Connecticut State. First pitch on Friday is set for 3 p.m. at Muzzy Field in Bristol, Conn.
