WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. ? Monmouth's three-run eighth inning broke a 3-3 tie, as the Hawks posted a 6-3 victory over NJIT in non-conference baseball action on Sunday afternoon. Monmouth's third straight win pushed its overall record to 10-10.
Monmouth got on the scoreboard in the third inning when Nick Pulsonetti laced a two-out, three-run home run to leftfield, on a full count offering. Pulsonetti's third homer of the season drove in both Chris Collazo and Ryan Terry, who each singled with two away.
NJIT trimmed the lead to 3-2 in the top of the fourth off Monmouth starter Nick Meyers, when John Bouck delivered a two-run single up the middle, which drove in Dan Moreno and John Berner, who were both in scoring position after Berner's double to right center.
David Jacob's double to left field, a wild pitch and a walk to Collazo put runners on the corners in the fifth for the Hawks. With one away, NJIT's second baseman speared a line drive off the bat of Ryan Terry, saving a run, and after an intentional pass to Pulsonetti loaded the bases, NJIT escaped the inning when Berner's diving play at third ended the threat.
Berner knotted the score, 3-3, in the top of the sixth inning, when the sophomore drilled a lead-off solo home run to just left of centerfield, off of Ryan Buch.
Consecutive singles, followed by a sacrifice bunt by Thomas Farina, put two Highlanders in scoring position to open the eighth, but Buch registered two straight outs, including a strikeout, to keep the contest tied.
Monmouth, which left the bases loaded in both the fifth and seventh innings, grabbed the lead in the eighth on Josh Boyd's single to right. Jamie Rosenkranz led off the frame with a single and moved to second on Bobby Dombrowski's sacrifice bunt. Boyd followed with a single and advanced to second on the throw.
After Jacob was hit by a pitch, Collazo followed with a run-scoring single to left, putting Monmouth ahead 5-3. Following a successful double-steal, Terry's sacrifice fly to right, pushed the edge to 6-3.
Meyers worked four innings for the Hawks, allowing two runs on eight hits, with two strikeouts. Buch, who came in to start the fifth inning, allowed one run over five frames, to pick up the victory. Buch (2-2) scattered four hits and recorded eight strikeouts.
Highlanders' starting pitcher, Dan Moreno, worked five innings, allowing three runs, on four hits, in a no-decision. Reid Okita (0-2) was saddled with the loss, allowing two runs in 2.1 innings of work.
Pulsonetti, who was intentionally walked three times in the game, now has 14 career round-trippers, in just his sophomore campaign.
Monmouth returns to action on Tuesday, when the Hawks host Princeton in non-conference action. First pitch is set for 3 p.m.
