JERSEY CITY, N.J. ? The Monmouth University baseball team slugged six home runs en route to a 20-10 nonconference win over Saint Peter's on Tuesday afternoon at Jaroschak Field. The Hawks, whose 20 runs scored is a season high, improve to 21-19, while SPC falls to 12-29.
MU scored at least one run in every inning and got its offense going early with three runs in the top of the first frame on a pair of long balls. Nick Pulsonetti drilled a two-run homer to left center, plating Brett Holland, who led off the game with a single. Two batters later, senior Chris Collazo drilled his first of two home run to center, giving Monmouth a 3-0 lead.
Collazo added a run-scoring single in the third, driving in Rick Niederhaus, who had also singed. The senior from Wall, N.J. hit his second four-bagger of the contest in the fifth inning. The Hawks then exploded for six runs in the sixth as Pulsonetti delivered his second dinger of the game, chasing home Ryan Terry. Senior Paul Bottigliero added a three-run homer, driving in Niederhaus and Collazo, three batters later. Freshman Jamie Rosenkranz got in on the act as well, going back-to-back with Bottigliero, adding a solo shot to left.
Rosenkranz added a RBI double in the seventh and Bobby Dombrowski laced a single, plating the freshman from Ocean, N.J. Dombrowski and Holland each added run-scoring singles in the ninth for Monmouth to conclude the scoring.
Nick Vallillo got the start on the mound and he pitched 4.0 innings, giving up four hits and three earned runs. He gave way to Tim Ballard, who pitched 1.1 innings, giving up seven hits and six earned runs. Nick McNamara earned the win, his first of the season, working 3.2 innings of shutout relief. He struck our four batters and did not walk anyone.
Collazo went 5-for-6 with two homers and a double, adding three RBI and three runs scored. Pulsonetti was 3-for-5 with two home runs and four RBI, to go along with a pair of runs scored. Holland, Dombrowsi and Josh Boyd each added three hits apiece, while Terry scored three runs. Rosenkranz had two hits and two RBI with three runs scored.
Monmouth returns to action tomorrow when they visit Rutgers for a 3:30 pm nonleague tilt with the Scarlet Knights.
