WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. ? Trailing 7-5 in the seventh inning, the Monmouth University baseball team posted a six-run home half of the frame to pace the Hawks to a 12-7 victory over Central Connecticut State in Northeast Conference action, on Friday afternoon.
In the decisive inning, Ryan Terry delivered a one-out infield single, which was followed by a free pass to Nick Pulsonetti. With a pair of runners on, Chris Collazo connected on an RBI double, to pull the Hawks within 7-6. After an intentional walk to Paul Bottigliero loaded the bases, Jamie Rosenkranz delivered a two-out, two-strike single up the middle, to push the Hawks in front 8-7.
Bobby Dombrowski's three run home run to right center, off reliever Jason Foster, in his first batter, gave Monmouth an 11-7 lead in the seventh.
With the victory, Monmouth improves to 29-20 overall and 15-8 in the NEC. CCSU falls to 23-20 overall and 13-11 in the league.
Monmouth cracked the scoreboard in the bottom of the second, when Josh Boyd's fielders choice groundout with the bases loaded plated Bottigliero, who drew a lead-off walk.
CCSU answered right back in the top of the third when Anthony Scialdone connected on a three-run homer to right field off Brett Brach. Jay Schillaci's solo home run to left, on a full count offering, pushed the Blue Devils' lead to 4-1.
The Hawks tied the game in the home half of the third as Pulsonetti laced a one-out double and came home on Collazo's infield single, which was coupled by a throwing error. Bottigliero then followed with an RBI double, while Rosenkranz added a run-scoring single to knot the score at 4-4.
Sean Allaire's two-out, two-strike solo shot to left reclaimed a 5-4 lead for the Blue Devils in the top of the fourth frame.
Boyd led off the bottom of the fourth with a triple, his fifth of the season, which was followed by a nine-pitch at-bat walk to David Jacob. Terry pulled Monmouth even at 5-5 with a sacrifice fly to left.
Scialdone laced his second homer of the day to right, a solo shot to lead off the fifth, to retake a 6-5 edge for CCSU.
The Blue Devils grabbed a 7-5 advantage in the top of the seventh on a Richie Tri RBI double.
Monmouth claimed an unearned run in the bottom of the eighth, when a fielding error on Bottigliero's grounder, allowed Terry to score, giving the Hawks a 12-7 advantage.
Brach worked 6.0 innings, allowing seven runs in a no-decision, while Nick McNamara (3-2) earned the win, tossing two shutout frames. Steve Sanguiliano worked a scoreless ninth inning for the Hawks.
Terry, Collazo and Rosenkranz each notched a pair of hits as the Hawks collected a total of 11 in the game, while Rosenkranz and Dombrowski each drove in three runs.
Monmouth returns to action on Saturday, when the Hawks host CCSU in an NEC doubleheader at noon.
