ORLANDO, FLA. ? Paced by career-days from Paul Bottigliero and Tim McEndy at the plate, and the pitching combination of Ryan Buch and Nick McNamara, the Monmouth University baseball team posted an 11-4 victory over UCF, at Jay Bergman Field, on Saturday evening.
Bottigliero, who collected a career-best seven RBI, connected on two home runs, while McEndy, inserted as today's designated hitter, went 4-for-5, as the Hawks pounded out 15 hits, en route to Monmouth's first victory of the season.
Buch earned the win for the Blue and White, tossing 5.0 innings, allowing four runs on six hits, with six strikeouts, while McNamara, in his second career appearance, picked up the save by tossing 4.0 shutout frames, with three strikeouts, while surrendering just two singles. McNamara, who did not throw a single pitch last season due to injury, retired 11 of the first 12 batters faced in his relief appearance.
Monmouth tacked on a single run in the second inning to claim a 1-0 lead, when McEndy's single to right center drove in Chris Collazo, who had led off with a single and moved up to second on a wild pitch prior to McEndy's run-scoring hit.
The Hawks put up a six-run third inning, to go ahead 7-0, which was highlighted by Bottigliero's grand slam. Back-to-back singles by Josh Boyd and Brett Holland, followed by Ryan Terry's hit-by-pitch, loaded the bases for Nick Pulsonetti's infield single, which made the score 2-0. Bottigliero then followed with his first career grand slam, pulling a first-pitch offering over the left field fence and a 6-0 edge.
Monmouth pushed the lead to 7-0 when a fielding error on a Boyd knock allowed McEndy to score after his double to right center.
UCF trimmed the lead to 7-2 in the bottom of the third, as Chadd Hartman's one-out, single up the middle drove in a run, and the Golden Knights scored again on a Monmouth error.
The Golden Knights pulled within 7-3 in the bottom of the fourth frame, when Eric Kallstrom delivered an RBI single to center, with two out and two runners on base. With two runners in scoring position, Ryan Buch then got Hartman to strikeout swinging, to end the threat.
UCF cut the Monmouth advantage to 7-4 in the fifth after consecutive two-out singles, followed by a wild pitch.
Monmouth responded with a three-run sixth, as Bottigliero laced his second home run of the game, and third of the season, to put the Hawks in front 10-4. Free passes to Holland and Pulsonetti set the stage for Bottigliero's, two-out, three-run shot to left.
The Hawks tacked on a single score in the top of the ninth, when Cal Costanzo delivered a pinch hit single to right, which plated Holland.
Monmouth faces UCF in the final game of the series on Sunday, March 8, when junior Nick Vallillo takes the ball for the Hawks. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.
