WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. ? Monmouth dropped a 2-1 decision to Bryant in non-conference baseball action on Sunday afternoon. The loss drops Monmouth's record 7-8 overall, while Bryant improves to 13-7, as the two squads split the four-game weekend series.
In a 1-1 game in the top of the ninth, Bryant's Jordan English poked a one-out single to left to start a Bulldog rally against reliever Nick McNamara. After a Scott Merritt pinch-hit single and a walk to pinch-hitter Dan Mello loaded the bases, Tim Norton's squeeze bunt drove in English with the go-ahead run. Monmouth ended the bases loaded threat with an inning-ending 1-2-3 double play.
Monmouth broke a scoreless tie in the bottom of the fifth when Chris Collazo's chopper to third base drove in Bobby Dombrowski, for a 1-0 lead. Dombrowski led off the frame with a single to right, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt and moved up to third on a groundout, prior to the infield hit.
The Bulldogs drew even in the top of the eighth when Jamie Skagerlind led off with a single. With two outs, and pinch-runner Connor Carignan on third, Dylan Stone delivered a two-strike single through the right side, knotting the score at 1-1.
Nick Meyers worked three scoreless innings for the Hawks, in his second start of the season. The lefty, who threw just six pitches in the first frame, allowed just two singles to go along with one strikeout.
Brett Brach, who served as Monmouth's second starter, tossed five frames, allowing one run on five hits, with three strikeouts.
Kevin Cobb (4-0), who worked eight innings for Bryant, allowed one run on seven hits, with four punchouts to earn the win. Mark Andrews, who pitched a scoreless ninth, picked up his fourth save of the season.
McNamara (0-1) was saddled with the loss, working one inning, while allowing one run on three hits.
Dombrowski, who went 3-for-4 with a run scored, led the Hawks' offense, which managed eight hits, and left nine runners on base.
Monmouth returns to action on Tuesday, when the Hawks travel to Temple in non-conference action. First pitch is set for 3 p.m., at Skip Wilson Field in Ambler, Pennsylvania.
