NEW BRITAIN, CONN. ? Behind a pair of six-run innings, and a defensive triple play, the fourth-seeded Monmouth University baseball team bested top-seeded Wagner College, 14-7, in the opening game of the 2009 Northeast Conference Tournament, presented by Akadema, at New Britain Stadium.

The Hawks, who generated a base runner in each of the nine innings, produced 14 runs on 14 hits, and drew five walks and six hit-by-pitches. Monmouth, which has now collected double-digit hits in 31 games on the year, notched six-run frames in both the second and ninth innings, en route to the win, its 24th victory in NEC Tournament history.

Monmouth, which has won at least one game in 12 of its 13 overall NEC Tournament appearances, improves to 30-23 overall with the victory. With the triumph, Monmouth has now won 30 games in three straight seasons, and in four out of the last five campaigns.

Monmouth, which had seven straight Hawks reach base, pushed across six runs on five hits in the top of the second inning, as the Hawks took a 6-0 lead against NEC Pitcher of the Year Matt Watson. Second-team All-NEC first baseman Paul Bottigliero led off the frame with a hit-by-pitch, and after a David Jacob sac bunt and a free pass to Jamie Rosenkranz, Bobby Dombrowski laced a double off the right centerfield fence, to plate the game's first run. Josh Boyd followed with a chopper to first, which was misplayed, allowing two runs to score, and give Monmouth a 3-0 lead.

Brett Holland followed with a run-scoring double to the leftfield gap, while Ryan Terry and first-team all-league performer Nick Pulsonetti each added RBI singles through the left side, for the 6-0 advantage.

Wagner designated hitter Matt Logan's run-scoring single to left field, with two outs, pulled the Seahawks within 6-1. In the frame, Jared Gruccio was Wagner's first base runner, reaching on a hit-by-pitch with one away. After a walk advanced Gruccio to second, the rightfielder crossed home on Logan's poke to left.

WC loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom of the fifth inning, as a pair of singles and a hit-batter packed the bags. In the next at-bat, the Hawks recorded a triple play to end the threat, as Wagner cut the lead to 6-2. With the bases loaded, and no outs, Damian Csakai lifted a sac fly to right, and as Jacob made a diving catch in the right field gap, which allowed a run to score, Monmouth eventually turned a triple-play, as neither Seahawk runner at first or second tagged on the play.

Two-time All-NEC First-Team member, Chris Collazo, who extended his career-best hit streak to 15 games, delivered a two-out RBI double for the Blue and White in the top of the sixth for a 7-2 advantage, plating Terry, who drew a one-out walk.

Wagner rallied in the bottom of the sixth, as the first four batters reached in the frame. Seth Boyd's single through the right side, pulled the Seahawks within 7-3, and with a pair of runners in scoring position, Logan laced an 0-2 triple to make the score 7-5. Chris Drechsel's sacrifice fly to left to drive in Logan, trimmed the lead to 7-6.

Pulsonetti's stand-up double down the leftfield line sparked a Monmouth run in the top of the eighth inning, as the DH came around on Bottigliero's two-out double to the leftfield gap, pushing the Hawks ahead 8-6.

Wagner's Seth Boyd dropped a double into centerfield, in front of a diving Josh Boyd, and came around to pull the Seahawks within a single run, 8-7, on Drechsel's single through the right side in the home half of the eighth. With two runners on base, senior Nick Meyers struck out Brian Martutartus to end the threat.

Back-to-back hit batsmen and a walk in the top of the ninth, with one out, set the stage for Terry, who connected on an RBI double down the right field line against reliever Andrew Huebner. Leading by three, Pulsonetti drew a walk to load the bases once again, allowing Monmouth's leading-hitter Collazo the opportunity to deliver his two-run single to right center and pushing the Hawks ahead 12-7. Bottigliero followed with two-run double just inside third base to increase the lead to 14-7.

Brett Brach (7-2), who retired his first 10 batters in the game, allowed his first runner with a hit-by-pitch on a 2-2 pitch in the bottom of the fourth. Brach, who left the contest with two runners on in the sixth, worked five innings, allowing four runs on four hits, with three strikeouts, to earn the win. Meyers worked three innings for the Hawks, surrendering three runs on five hits with four strikeouts and no walks.

Sophomore Nick McNamara allowed three straight hits, including a run-scoring double in the ninth, to account for the 14-8 final tally.

Monmouth's offense was paced by the 2-through-5 hitters in the lineup (Terry, Pulsonetti, Collazo, Bottigliero), who went a combined 9-for-18 with 10 RBI, as Terry, Collazo and Bottigliero each drove in three runs. 

Wagner starter Matt Watson, who went 7-0 in NEC play this season, suffered the loss, as the righty worked 6.1 frames, allowing seven runs on nine hits, with three walks.

Huebner, who was 13 for 13 in save chances for Wagner this season, allowed three runs on three hits, in just one-third of an inning for the Seahawks.

With the opening-game result, the Hawks return to action tomorrow in the winner's bracket, and will face the #2 Sacred Heart/#3 CCSU winner at 3:30 p.m. Junior right-hander Ryan Buch (7-4) will make the start for the Hawks.