WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. - Sophomore Owen Stewart delivered a pinch-hit, two-run double in the bottom of the ninth inning to lead the Monmouth University baseball team to a 3-2 victory over Bryant University in its 2010 Northeast Conference opener, on Friday afternoon.
Trailing 2-1 heading into the home half of the ninth, Jamie Rosenkranz started the frame with a first pitch single through the right side, which was followed by Ryan Terry's bunt base hit. With a pair of runners on, pinch-hitter Mike Casale dropped down a sacrifice bunt, which moved both runners into scoring position.
After BU decided to intentionally walk Cal Costanzo to load the bases, BU starter Eric Polvani's last action, Stewart stepped in and laced the game-winning hit down the right field line, pacing the Hawks to the 3-2 comeback victory.
With the victory, Monmouth improves to 5-7 overall and 1-0 in the NEC. Bryant falls to 3-12, and 0-1 in league play.
Monmouth took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the sixth inning, as Bobby Dombrowski beat out an infield single to start the frame. After Matt McEndy's sacrifice bunt moved Dombrowski into scoring position, Josh Boyd sliced a doubled into the leftfield gap for the first score.
Bryant answered with a pair of scores in the top of the seventh, as a two-out bunt single by Dylan Stone, followed by a stolen base and an error, tied the game at 1-1. With a runner at second after the error, Jamie Skagerlind delivered a run scoring single to right, for a 2-1 edge.
Polvani, who worked 8.1 innings, was saddled with the defeat allowing three runs on seven hits, with 12 strikeouts.
Meyers worked 8.0 innings, allowing two unearned runs, on three hits, with five strikeouts, while freshman Neil Harm earned his first career win, tossing a scoreless ninth for Monmouth.
Rosenkranz had two hits for the Hawks, while pinch-hitter Chris Perret collected his first career hit in the Blue and White in the eighth frame.
Monmouth and Bryant continue the Northeast Conference series on Saturday, with a doubleheader, starting at 1:00 p.m. Scheduled to take the mound for the Hawks are senior Kyle Breese and freshman Pat Light, respectively.
