WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. - The Monmouth University baseball team defeated Rutgers University for a fourth straight time in non-conference action, topping the Scarlet Knights 2-1 on Wednesday afternoon.

Monmouth, which improves to 17-18 overall, has won each of the last four meetings between the Garden State institutions, dating back to the 2008 season.

The Hawks' staff, which allowed one run on seven hits, saw reliever Chris Perret (1-2) pick up his first career win, tossing 2.0 innings, allowing the lone unearned score. Senior Andy McDonnell, who started for the Hawks, pitched 3.0 scoreless frames with a pair of strikeouts.

Nick Pulsonetti led off the Monmouth second inning with a double to right center, and the Hawks grabbed a 1-0 lead when Owen Stewart delivered an RBI single.

Jaren Matthews connected on a lead-off double to open the fourth frame for Rutgers and came around on Jayson Hernandez's sac bunt, which was coupled by a Monmouth throwing error on the play.

Monmouth took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the fifth when Tom Augustyniak drew a lead off walk, advanced to second on Josh Boyd's sacrifice bunt and crossed home on Ryan Terry's double.

Jonathan Shippee hurled 3.0 shutout frames during the sixth, seventh and eighth innings, while Neil Harm earned his second career save with a scoreless ninth, behind a pair of punchouts.

Monmouth, which collected five hits in the contest, was paced by Terry's 2-for-4 day.

Rutgers' starter Kyle Bradley tossed his first career complete game, notching a career-best eight strikeouts.

Monmouth returns to action on Friday when the Hawks open a four-game Northeast Conference series with Quinnipiac. First pitch is slated for 3:00 p.m.