WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. ? The Monmouth University baseball team rallied with a six-run fifth inning to post an 8-5 victory over Fairleigh Dickinson in game one of a Northeast Conference doubleheader on Sunday afternoon. Highlighted by freshman Ryan Terry's two homers, including the game-deciding three-run shot in the fifth inning, Monmouth improves to 33-13 overall and 18-5 in the NEC.
Monmouth took at 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first when Ryan Terry laced a solo shot to left center field off FDU starter Nicholas Melchiorre.
In the top of the third, the Knights loaded the bases with no outs in front of Brett Lazar, who cleared the bases with a double to the gap in left, on a 3-2 pitch, putting FDU in front 3-1. FDU went ahead 4-1 two batters later when Steven LaForge doubled as well, and grabbed a 5-1 advantage on Luis Rosario's RBI groundout.
Monmouth loaded the bags in the bottom of the third inning, with one out, after two walks and a hit-by-pitch, before Nick Pulsonetti's ground out made the score 5-2.
The Blue and White loaded the bases once again in the bottom of the fifth off Melchiorre, who was lifted in favor of Zachary Kisling. With no out, Andy Meyers' grounder was misplayed at first, allowing two runs to score, pulling Monmouth within 5-4. Pulsonetti followed with a sacrifice fly to right field to knot the score at 5-5. After a hit and run with Tim McEndy put runners at the corners, Terry connected on his second homer of the game to left center, putting Monmouth in front 8-5.
Ryan Buch, who threw 71 pitches, lasted three innings, surrendering five runs on five hits, but was let off the hook by Monmouth's rally in the fifth frame.
Nick Vallillo worked three scoreless frames for the Hawks, surrendering just one hit, with three strikeouts, to earn the victory and improve his record to 3-0.
Justin Esposito pitched a perfect seventh to earn his 11th save of the year.
Melchiorre worked four frames, allowing five runs on three hits, in the no-decision. Kisling allowed three runs in one inning to suffer the loss, falling to 0-5.
