ORLANDO, FLA. ? Despite a third straight game with double-digit hits, the Monmouth University baseball team fell 10-5 at UCF, on Sunday afternoon. The Hawks, who had five players collect multiple hits, were led by Rick Niederhaus' three base knocks, while falling to 1-5 on the year.

Monmouth posted single runs in the first two innings to claim a 2-0 lead. In the opening frame, Paul Bottigliero singled home Nick Pulsonetti, who delivered a two-out double in front of him, while in the second inning, Mike Casale's RBI groundout, plated Tim McEndy, who led off the frame with a single.

UCF answered with a four-run bottom of the second off Monmouth starter Nick Vallillo, as the Golden Knights collected three RBI doubles.

Monmouth knotted the score at 4-4 in the top of the fourth, when Bobby Dombrowski's double drove in Niederhaus, and Dombrowski later scored on a wild pitch.

The Hawks squeaked ahead, 5-4, in the seventh when Niederhaus delivered a two-out run-scoring double to center, which plated McEndy.

UCF responded with a pair of three-run frames in both the seventh and eighth innings to take a 10-5 advantage.

Vallillo worked 6.0 innings for the Hawks, allowing four runs on 10 hits, in a no-decision. Matt Frazier, in his first work in nearly a year, was saddled with the loss, surrendering three runs on two hits, in a third of an inning. Nick Meyers, in his first action since March 4, 2007, worked two-thirds of an inning, allowing three runs on four hits. Steve Sanguiliano and Tim Ballard combined for a scoreless inning for the Hawks.

Monmouth, which had 16 and 15 hits, respectively in the first two games of the series, collected 14 hits in the finale. Niederhaus went 3-for-5 as the DH, while Ryan Terry, Bottigliero, McEndy and Casale each added two hits apiece for the Hawks.

Monmouth returns to action on Tuesday, March 10, when the Hawks travel to Florida Atlantic University for a 7 p.m. contest in Boca Raton.