BROOKLYN, N.Y. - Powered by a pair of two-run home runs by senior catcher Bobby Dombrowski and eight strong innings from starter Nick Meyers, the Monmouth University baseball team defeated Long Island University 9-2 in Northeast Conference action on Friday afternoon.

Dombrowski, who had seven RBI in a game earlier this season, paced the Hawks with his 3-for-4 day with two home runs and four RBI, while Meyers (4-1) tossed a season-high tying 8.0 innings, allowing two runs on four hits with three strikeouts to earn the win.

With the league victory, Monmouth improves to 8-9 in NEC action, and 14-17 overall, while the Blackbirds fall to 9-26 overall and 6-11 in the conference.

Monmouth posted an unearned run in the top of the third when Matt McEndy reached on a lead-off error and advanced to second on the play. After a flyout moved McEndy to third, Ryan Terry's single to left center gave the Hawks a 1-0 lead.

The Hawks snatched a 3-0 lead in the top of the fourth when Bobby Dombrowski laced a two-run home run to right off LIU starter Kenny Cedel. With Mike Casale on board after a lead-off single, Dombrowski lifted the 2-0 offering to the opposite field, for his second homer of the year.

LIU trimmed its deficit to 3-2 in the bottom of the fifth when Gerard Tingos connected on a two-run homer, with two outs, off Meyers.

Three straight singles opened the Hawks' seventh and loaded the bases before back-to-back two-run doubles from Terry and Jamie Rosenkranz pushed Monmouth in front 7-2.

Dombrowski connected on his second two-run homer of the game in the top of the eighth to give Monmouth a 9-2 advantage, driving in Casale once again, who this time led off the frame with a double.

Freshman Neil Harm worked a scoreless ninth for Monmouth, surrendering one hit.

Terry added two hits and three RBI for Monmouth, which collected 11 hits in the game off of three LIU pitchers, including seven off of Cedel (1-6), who was saddled with the loss for the Blackbirds.

Monmouth and Long Island continue the Northeast Conference series with a noon doubleheader on Saturday at LIU Field.