WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. ? Monmouth University dropped the final game of the regular season, 3-2, to Central Connecticut State on Sunday afternoon, in Northeast Conference action. Monmouth, which clinched the No. 4 seed in the upcoming NEC Tournament, finished the regular season 29-23 overall, and 15-11 in league play.
Monmouth wasted no time changing the scoreboard as Brett Holland led off with a double and scored on Ryan Terry's single up the middle. Despite advancing a runner to third with one out after an error, CCSU catcher Sean Parker picked Terry off at third after a pitch, keeping the score 1-0.
The Blue Devils answered in the top of the third when Parker laced a double to left center, which put a pair of runners in scoring position, before Mitch Wells followed with a sacrifice fly to center, knotting the score at 1-1.
The Blue Devils took a 2-1 lead in the top of the fourth, plating a run without a hit. A walk, hit-batsman and a wild pitch from starter Nick Vallillo put a pair of runners in scoring position, and after reliever Nick Meyers recorded an infield out, Richie Tri's sacrifice fly put CCSU ahead by a run.
Back-to-back one-out singles from Holland and Terry in the bottom of the eighth started a rally for the Hawks. With two on, Nick Pulsonetti delivered a single up the middle to plate Holland and knot the score at 2-2, knocking out CCSU starter Dan Markoya.
Pat Epps started the top of the ninth for the Blue Devils with a single, and on a first pitch offering Jay Schillaci laced a double to the left field gap, putting two runners in scoring position. In the next at-bat, Tri reached on a wild pitch during a strikeout, but Bobby Dombrowski corralled the loose ball and caught pinch-runner Kyle Zarotney with a flip to Meyers at home.
After a sac bunt put two runners in scoring position once again, Monmouth issued an intentional walk to Parker to load the bases, with two away, before the No. 9 hitter Mitch Wells grounded out to end the threat.
A leadoff single and a sacrifice bunt moved Sean Allaire into scoring position for the Blue Devils in the top of the tenth inning off Nick McNamara, before Anthony Scialdone delivered the game-winning single to left, pushing CCSU in front 3-2.
A Terry single and a walk to Pulsonetti mounted a two-out rally for the Hawks in the home half of the tenth, but Monmouth was unable to push across the tying run against Ken Kerski, who earned two wins in the series for the Blue Devils.
Kerski, who tossed the final 2.2 frames for CCSU, picked up the victory, which clinched a tournament berth for the Blue Devils. Markoya worked 7.1 innings, allowing two runs on seven hits, in the no-decision.
Vallillo worked 3.0 innings, allowing two runs on one hit, with one strikeout. Meyers tossed a season-high six scoreless frames, surrendering three hits with a season-best five strikeouts. McNamara (3-3) suffered the loss for the Hawks, allowing one run on two hits, in the final inning of work.
Holland and Terry each collected three hits as the 1-2 hitters for the Hawks.
Prior to the game, relief pitcher Tim Ballard, Paul Bottigliero, Mike Casale, Chris Collazo, Rick Niederhaus and Brett Holland were honored on Senior Day.
Monmouth, which has earned its 13th overall NEC Tournament berth, returns to action on Thursday, at New Britain Stadium. Monmouth, the No. 4 seed will face top-seeded Wagner at noon.
