WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. - Monmouth University split a Northeast Conference doubleheader on Saturday afternoon with visiting Bryant University, posting a 5-4 walk-off victory in game one, but falling in the nightcap 10-1.
With the split, Monmouth, which got a pair of home runs from freshman Danny Avella on the day, stands at 6-8 overall and 2-1 in league play, while Bryant improves to 4-13 overall and 1-2 in the NEC.
In game one, the Hawks earned a second straight walk-off victory in the series, as Matt McEndy's single, with the infield in, in the bottom of the tenth inning, led Monmouth to a 5-4 win.
Avella drew a lead off walk to start the bottom of the tenth and Bobby Dombrowski followed with a bunt, which was coupled with an error, putting a pair of runners on base. With no out, Anthony Lawrence's fielder's choice groundout moved Avella to third in front of McEndy, who laced a single at the second baseman.
Bryant's lead-off hitter, Kevin Brown put the Bulldogs on the board in the first inning with a solo shot down the rightfield line on Monmouth starter Kyle Breese's 2-0 offering, for the 1-0 edge.
Tim Norton's solo homer down the leftfield line to lead off the top of the third frame, doubled the Bulldogs' advantage to 2-0.
Ryan Terry's lead-off double into the leftfield corner started the Hawks' fourth inning, and the junior then came around to score on Dombrowski's first pitch, RBI single through the left side, making the score 2-1.
Bryant answered in the top of the fifth when Brown connected on his second homer of the day, a two-run shot to right center, inflating the advantage to 4-1.
Monmouth mounted a rally in the bottom of the sixth when Cal Costanzo led off with a single, and DH Chris Perret reached on a throwing error by the pitcher, putting both runners in scoring position, with no outs. In the next at-bat, Avella launched a three-run homer to right, off BU starter Salvatore Lisanti, knotting the score at 4-4.
In the bottom of the seventh, Monmouth drew a pair of one-out walks from reliever Nick Laude, before the Bulldogs called on Mark Andrews, who struck out the next two batters to end the threat.
Lisanti worked 5.0 innings, allowing four runs on six, with six strikeouts, while Andrews (0-1) suffered the loss for Bryant, allowing one unearned run on three hits in the 3.0 innings of work.
Breese tossed 8.0 frames for Monmouth, surrendering four runs on six hits, with a pair of strikeouts, and Neil Harm (2-0), who picked up the win in yesterday's game, earned the victory, working 2.0 shutout innings in relief.
In game two, Bryant took advantage of a two-out error to tack on three runs, as Ryan Granat laced a two-run double to right center, and Brown followed with a run-scoring double of his own, pushing the Bulldogs in front 3-0.
Brown bounced a double off the leftfield wall to start the fifth inning, and after a hit by pitch, and a double steal, Jeff Vigurs drilled a two-run single through the right side, to give Bryant a 5-0 advantage.
Avella got Monmouth on the board in the home half of the fifth when the freshman launched his second homer of the day, on a 3-2 pitch from BU starter Joseph Michaud, over the rightfield wall, pulling the Hawks within 5-1.
Bryant got the run back and more in the top of the sixth when Granat's double to right drove in Tim Norton for a 6-1 lead, while Brown, Vigurs, Nick Campbell and Stone all drove in runs as well, to increase the lead to 10-1.
Light (0-3) was saddled with the loss for Monmouth in game two, working 5.1 frames, allowing seven runs on seven hits, with a season-best seven strikeouts.
Bryant starter Michaud earned the win by tossing 6.0 innings, allowing one run on one hit, with eight strikeouts, while David O'Brien pitched a perfect ninth in relief.
Monmouth and Bryant conclude its Northeast Conference series on Sunday, with a 1:00 p.m. contest.
