PISCATAWAY, N.J. ? Monmouth registered a 4-2 non-conference victory at Rutgers on Wednesday afternoon, as the Hawks improved to 29-10 overall on the season. Monmouth, which has now won 27 of its last 29 games, swept the season series from Rutgers for the first time in the series history.
Kyle Higgins started things for Monmouth, drawing a walk to lead off the game. After a failed pick off attempts allowed Higgins to advance to third, Shawn Teters' groundout gave the Hawks a 1-0 advantage.
The Hawks went ahead 2-0 in the second frame, as Monmouth loaded the bases after singles from Paul Bottigliero, Tim McEndy and Chris Collazo. With one out, Cal Costanzo drew a four-pitch walk to force Bottigliero home.
Rutgers trimmed the Monmouth lead in half in the bottom of the third, when two singles put runners at the corners, before a Tom Edwards' infield single made the score 2-1.
Monmouth retaliated in the fourth frame when Ryan Terry led off the inning with a hit-by-pitch. After Collazo's single put runners on the corners, Costanzo delivered a run-scoring single to right field, to put the Hawks in front 3-1.
The Scarlet Knights pulled within 3-2 in the home half of the sixth frame when Edwards reached on a hit-by-pitch, moved to second, third and eventually home on consecutive wild pitches from Breese.
The Hawks responded with a wild pitch score of their own in the top of the seventh to reclaim a two-run edge. Higgins led off with a single, stole second, advanced to third on a Teters' sacrifice and scored on a wild pitch.
Breese worked 6.0 innings, allowing two runs on six hits, with a career-best nine strikeouts, to earn the victory, which improved his record to 5-1.
Esposito, who got the final out of the eighth for the Hawks, with two runners on, worked the final inning a third, to pick up his tenth save of the year.
Rutgers' starter Tony Wargo was saddled with the loss, working seven innings, allowing four runs on six hits, while striking out four and walking five.
Monmouth returns to action on Friday, when the Hawks open a four-game Northeast Conference series with Mount St. Mary's. First pitch of game one has been moved to 4 p.m.
