ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. ? Top-seed Monmouth rallied from an eighth inning, 9-2 deficit, powered by senior Andy Meyers' game-tying ninth inning homer, and game-winning single in the tenth, to earn a 10-9 victory over #2 Central Connecticut State in the winner's bracket game of the 2008 Northeast Conference Tournament at Bernie Robbins Stadium, on Friday afternoon. The win, Monmouth's school-record 37th victory on the year, advances the Hawks to the NEC Championship game for a second straight year.
Meyers, who had two home runs on the day, capped Monmouth's seven-run rally in the final two innings of regulation with a solo shot to left off reliever Kyle Kerski, on a 2-2 pitch. The first baseman then collected the game-winning single to second base in the home half of the tenth frame, plating Kyle Higgins with the game winning run.
Meyers put Monmouth on the board first, as the senior hit a towering two-run home run to right field, plating Higgins, who led off the bottom of the first with an infield single, off CCSU starter Matt Gianini.
In the top of the fourth inning, CCSU's Kyle Zarotney tied the score, lacing a two-run shot to left field with two outs, which drove in Jak Kidd, on base after being hit by a pitch from Monmouth starting pitcher Ryan Buch.
In the top of the fifth, Sean Allaire connected on a one-out single through the left side, and advanced to third on Anthony Scaildone's single to right. With runners on the corners, Casey Walko's sacrifice fly to right, put the Blue Devils in front 3-2. After a single and a walk loaded the bases, Tommy Meade drew a walk, making the score 4-2, knocking Buch from the game.
Monmouth reliever Tim Ballard got Zarotney to strike out swinging with the bags packed, to end the threat in the fifth frame.
The Blue and White put runners on the corners in the home half of the fifth, with one down, but Gianini registered two straight strikeouts to end the inning.
The Blue Devils made the score 8-2 in the top of the sixth inning when Sean Allaire connected on a three-run homer to left field off Ballard, and Walko followed with a solo shot to left off Tim Dexter.
CCSU pushed the lead to 9-2 in the top of the seventh when Zarotney drew a leadoff walk, stole second, and crossed home on Allaire's bloop single to center.
Monmouth rallied for six runs in the bottom of the eighth to pull within 9-8. Ryan Terry reached on an error and Meyers singled to left to start the frame. Run-scoring hits from Paul Bottigliero, Nick Pulsonetti and Chris Collazo made the score 9-5, and after the Hawks loaded the bases with two outs, Higgins delivered a two-run single through the right side, pulling the Blue and White within 9-7, and knocking Gianini from the contest.
Tim McEndy, who legged out a pinch-hit, infield single in the rally, crossed home on a passed ball with Kerski on the mound, making the score 9-8 after eight frames.
Meyers tied the score in the ninth with his second homer of the game, and 26th career shot.
Buch worked 4.2 innings, allowing four runs on five hits, with four walks and three strikeouts, in the no-decision. Ballard registered just a third of an inning, surrendering three runs on three hits. Dexter allowed two runs on five hits in three innings of work for Monmouth.
Justin Esposito, who induced a double play to end a CCSU threat in the top of the ninth, with two runners aboard, worked two full innings, improving to 3-1 on the year. The senior scattered two singles.
Gianini tossed 7.2 frames, allowing eight runs on 12 hits, while Kerski (3-6) was saddled with the loss, allowing two runs on three hits.
Meyers, who drove in four to pull within one RBI of tying the school-record, went 4-for-5, with three runs scored. Higgins went 3-for-6 with two RBI and two runs scored in the leadoff spot, while Pulsonetti collected two hits, including his second triple of the tournament. Higgins, whose diving stop in the ninth inning saved a run and allowed Esposito to get out of the inning with the double play groundout, pulled with three hits of tying the school-record for single season base knocks, as the shortstop has 86.
Monmouth, which is making its seventh championship game appearance, advances to the Championship round on Saturday, at noon.
