WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. ? The Monmouth University baseball team registered an 8-2 victory over Fairleigh Dickinson in game one of a Northeast Conference doubleheader on Saturday afternoon.

With the victory, Monmouth improves to 32-12 overall and 17-4 in the NEC, while FDU falls to 12-35 overall.

The Knights took a 1-0 lead in the third frame when Zach Sand singled through the left side, moved up to second on a wild pitch and scored on Matt Maher's two-out, single up the middle.

Monmouth knotted the score in the home half of the third when Brett Holland led off with a single, stole second and came home when Kyle Higgins reached on a fielding error. After Shawn Teters drew a walk, Paul Bottigliero connected on a two-out, three-run home run to left to give the Hawks a 4-1 lead.

Ryan Terry drew a free pass to start the fourth inning, and after a successful hit-and-run by Chris Collazo put runners at the corners, Holland laced a run-scoring double to left center, giving Monmouth a 5-1 edge. With two runners in scoring position, Higgins' sacrifice fly to center put the Blue and White in front 6-1.

The Hawks went ahead 7-1 in the sixth inning on John Dennis' sacrifice fly, which plated Terry, who led off the frame with an infield single. Monmouth then pushed the edge to 8-1 when Holland advanced to second on a balk, stole third, and came home on an error.

FDU pulled within 8-2 in the top of the seventh off reliever Tim Ballard, as Patrick Furey drove in Brian Dillon with an RBI fielder's choice.

Brad Brach (6-2) worked 6.0 innings, allowing one run on seven hits, while striking out five, to earn the win. Ballard tossed 2.0 frames, allowing a run on four hits. Sophomore Andy McDonnell worked a scoreless ninth for the Hawks.

FDU starting pitcher Ben Green suffered the loss, working 6.0 innings, allowing eight runs on five hits and five walks.