WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. ? The Monmouth University offense registered season-highs in both runs and hits, en route to a 21-0 victory over in-state rival Saint Peter's in non-conference action, on Wednesday afternoon.
The Hawks, who scored at least a run in each of the first seven innings, plated a season-best 21 runs on 25 hits, which included five home runs, en route to their 28th victory of the season. With the win, Monmouth improves to 28-20 overall on the season.
Monmouth cracked the scoreboard in the first inning, when Chris Collazo delivered a two-out single up the middle, advanced to second on a wild pitch, and came around on Paul Bottigliero's double down the leftfield line, which was deflected by the third baseman.
The Hawks went in front 2-0 in the home half of the second as Jamie Rosenkranz crossed home from third when Brett Holland laid down a bunt single. Rosenkranz, who reached on a fielder's choice, moved to second on a Bobby Dombrowski single and raced to third on Josh Boyd's fly out to right center.
Consecutive singles and a walk loaded the bases for the Hawks in the bottom of the third before David Jacob delivered an RBI single, to push the lead to 3-0. Dombrowski's two-run double with two outs, inflated the advantage to 5-0 for the Hawks, before Boyd followed with an RBI to right center, for a 6-0 lead.
Solo home runs from Ryan Terry and Bottigliero in the bottom of the fourth frame, pushed the Hawks' advantage to 8-0. Terry laced a first-pitch shot to left to start the inning, while Bottigliero drilled his to the opposite field.
Collazo delivered a run-scoring single in the bottom of the fifth, while Bottigliero yanked a two-run homer to left for an 11-0 advantage. Bottigliero, who delivered his third multi-homer game of the year, connected on his team-leading 15h of the season, one away from tying the Monmouth single-season record held by 2001 First-Team All-American Jay Law.
The Blue and White pushed the lead to 13-0 in the fifth, when Rosenkranz drilled a two-run double to right centerfield off SPC starter Anthony DeLeo.
Rick Niederhaus' single to right, in the bottom of the sixth, moved the Monmouth lead to 14-0, before the Hawks loaded the bases, and Cal Costanzo's infield single pushed the edge to 15-0.
Monmouth plated six two-out runs in the seventh to take a 21-0 lead, as Niederhaus pulled a run-scoring double down the leftfield line, Jacob collected a pair of RBI on a single, Rosenkranz drilled a two-run homer to left center, and Costanzo connected on his first round-tripper of the season, to left.
Frazier, who allowed lone singles in the first and fifth innings, worked a season-high five shutout innings to earn the victory, in his second start of the year. Frazier (1-2) struck out four batters, and surrendered one walk.
Freshmen hurlers Jonathan Shippee (sixth), Matt Goitz (seventh) and Stephen Prosapio (eighth) each worked a shutout inning of relief for the Hawks, while sophomore Steve Sanguiliano tossed a scoreless ninth inning.
Bottigliero went 5-for-7 for the Hawks, while Niederhaus (four hits) and Collazo (three) helped pace the Monmouth offense. Holland, Jacob, Rosenkranz, Dombrowski and Costanzo each collected two hits apiece.
Monmouth returns to action on Friday, when the Hawks host CCSU in the opening game of a four-game Northeast Conference series. First pitch is set for 3 p.m.
