WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. ? Monmouth junior Kyle Breese worked seven innings to earn the win, while the offense pounded out 15 hits, as the Hawks posted an 8-1 victory over Bryant University on Friday afternoon in the 2009 home opener for the Blue and White. The victory, Monmouth's fifth straight win, evened the Hawks' overall record to 6-6, while Bryant falls to 11-6 on the season.
Monmouth, which has posted double-digit hits in nine straight games, collected 15 hits, as Brett Holland had three base knocks in the leadoff role and outfield mate Josh Boyd added three hits and two RBI.
In the top of the third, Monmouth cut down Bryant's Jamie Skagerlind at the plate to keep the game scoreless. With Skagerlind on first after a fielder's choice, Pat McKenna laced a double to left center, but Boyd and Ryan Terry's relay throw home beat the shortstop to the plate by a few steps.
In the bottom of the third, Monmouth recorded a trio of two-out runs to grab a 3-0 lead. With runners on second and third, Nick Pulsonetti's double to left plated Chris Collazo and Terry, and Rick Niederhaus followed with a single to right to drive in Pulsonetti, for the 3-0 advantage.
Nick Campbell's bloop double down the right field line put two runners in scoring position, with two down in the top of the sixth frame, but Breese registered a strikeout to maintain the Hawks' 3-0 advantage.
The Hawks built on their lead in the sixth, as Mike Casale led off with a single through the left side, advanced to second on Dombrowski's sacrifice bunt and came around on Boyd's slicing single to right centerfield. Monmouth pushed the edge to 5-0, when Holland followed with an RBI double.
Bryant pulled within 5-1 in the top of the seventh as the Bulldogs notched three singles, including Tim Norton's RBI single with two outs.
Monmouth pushed the lead to 8-1 in the home half of the seventh, as the Hawks recorded runs on a wild pitch, a fielding error and Boyd's RBI single. Niederhaus started the rally with a walk and advanced to third on Paul Bottigliero's single to right, where a fielding error put both runners in scoring position. A wild pitch with David Jacob pinch-running at third made the score 6-1, Casale reaching on an error pushed the lead to 7-1, and Boyd's single to the opposite field made the score 8-1.
Earning his first win of the season, Breese (1-0) worked 7.0 innings for the Hawks, allowing the lone run, while scattering eight hits with seven strikeouts. Steve Sanguiliano worked the final two shutout frames for Monmouth, allowing one hit.
Bryant's starting pitcher, Eric Polvani (2-2), who worked 5.1 innings, allowing five runs on 12 hits, was saddled with the loss. Nick Laude, who came in for Polvani in the sixth, recorded the final two outs for the Bulldogs in the frame, and worked 1.0, allowing three runs on one hit. Rocco Cundari tossed the final 1.2 scoreless innings, surrendering two hits.
Monmouth returns to action on Saturday, when the Hawks host Bryant in a doubleheader at noon. Set to start for the Blue and White are junior Ryan Buch (1-1) in game one and junior Nick Vallillo (1-0) in the second contest.
