WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. ? The Monmouth University baseball team fell 9-5 to Mount St. Mary's in Northeast Conference action, on Friday afternoon. The loss, Monmouth's first at home all season, drops the Hawks' record to 29-11 overall and 14-3 in the league.
Kyle Higgins started things for the Hawks, lacing a leadoff single through the left side in the first inning. After a walk was handed to Shawn Teters, Andy Meyers' fly out put runners at the corners, and Higgins came home on a Nick Pulsonetti groundout to give Monmouth a 1-0 lead.
Mount knotted the score at 1-1 in the second inning, as Zach Helman laced a two-out single down the leftfield line, just under the glove of a diving Ryan Terry, to plate Josh Vittek, who led off the frame with a walk.
After the Hawks registered two quick outs in the third inning, the Mountaineers loaded the bases behind two singles and a walk, before Shane Eyler connected on a grand slam, which bounced off the top of the wall and out, giving the Mount a 5-1 lead. Eyler, who had seven total RBI entering the game, hit his second homer of the year.
Designated hitter, Rick Niederhaus led off the Monmouth fourth frame with a double to left, and after Chris Collazo's groundout moved Niederhaus to third, Ryan Terry lifted a sac fly to center to pull the Hawks within 5-2.
In the fifth inning, Higgins laced a triple to left centerfield and scored on Teters' single to center, making the score 5-3.
Vittek connected on his league-leading 13th homer of the season in the seventh inning, a two-run shot to left center, to give the Mount a 7-3 advantage off reliever Tim Ballard. Alex Andrews' two-out single up the middle put the Mountaineers in front 8-3.
Brach, who worked six innings, allowing five runs on eight hits with five strikeouts and three walks, suffered the loss for Monmouth. Ballard worked two-thirds of an inning, surrendering three runs on five hits, before Nick Vallillo got the Hawks out of the seventh frame with two runners on, with one pitch.
Max Brittenham improved to 4-4 on the season, as the sophomore worked seven frames, allowing three runs on five hits.
Meyers drew a leadoff walk in the eighth for the Hawks and after a failed pick off attempt allowed Meyers to reach second, Nick Pulsonetti laced a run-scoring double, making the score 8-4. Collazo delivered an RBI single to center to pull Monmouth within 8-5.
Mount's Ryan Murray connected on a solo homer in the top of the ninth off Vallillo to put the Mountaineers ahead 9-5.
Mount St. Mary's, which pounded out 14 hits, including three home runs, moved to 9-7 in the NEC.
Higgins' 3-for-4 day, with two runs scored led Monmouth's attack, which hit into two double plays for a second straight conference loss.
Monmouth returns to action tomorrow, when the Hawks host Mount St. Mary's in a Northeast Conference doubleheader, at noon.
