WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. - The Monmouth University baseball team defeated Quinnipiac University 12-6 in the final game of a Northeast Conference series on Sunday afternoon. Monmouth, which took three-of-four in the weekend series, improves to 20-19 overall and 13-11 in league play.
Monmouth, which was paced by its 1-2-3 hitters - Mike Casale, Ryan Terry and Jamie Rosenkranz, who combined for nine hits, five RBI and 10 runs scored, has now won 20 games in a season for the 15th straight year.
Quinnipiac scored a pair of two-out runs in the first inning off Monmouth starter, freshman Dan Smith, to take an early 2-0 lead. After a two-out walk was issued to Brian Monack, Joe Poletsky delivered an RBI double into the rightfield corner and Chris Migani followed with a run-scoring single for the two-run edge.
For a second straight inning, the Bobcats recorded a two-out run when Ryan Ullrich singled, stole second, and came around on Mike Bartlett's single, giving QU a 3-0 lead.
Monmouth, which loaded the bases in the home half of the first, loaded them again in the third as Casale doubled, Terry bunted for a base hit and Rosenkranz walked in front of Nick Pulsonetti, who drew another walk and made the score 3-1. With the bags still packed, Bobby Dombrowski's groundout pulled the Hawks within 3-2, and Danny Avella's two-run single to center pushed MU in front 4-3.
Cal Costanzo's lead off double started the Monmouth fourth frame and after Casale's one-out single through the left side of the infield put runners at the corners, Terry lifted a sac fly to center to give the Blue and White a 5-3 edge. Monmouth then claimed a 7-3 lead when Rosenkranz followed with a two-run homer to left, knocking QU starter Alex Russow from the contest.
Monmouth tacked on three runs to increase the lead to 10-3 in the bottom of the sixth, taking advantage of two errors and two hits. Casale led off with a single and after an error on a failed pick off attempt advanced him to third, Terry walked, putting runners at the corners. In the next at-bat, Rosenkranz reached on an error, allowing Casale to cross, making the tally 8-3. Pulsonetti then followed with an RBI single and Avella's groundout changed the scoreboard to 10-3.
Quinnipiac pulled within 10-4 in the top of the seventh, when the Bobcats recorded an unearned run with two outs. With two away, Bartlett doubled and then came around to score on a throwing error.
The Hawks answered with a pair of runs in the seventh, increasing the lead to 12-4, when Rosenkranz singled up the middle, knocking in Casale and Terry.
Gabe Guerino's two-run homer to right with two down in the top of the eighth allowed the Bobcats to climb within 12-6.
Smith (1-3) tossed 7.2 frames, allowing six runs on nine hits, with three strikeouts, to earn the victory. Neil Harm worked the final 1.1 frames, surrendering no runs or hits.
Russow (2-1) worked 3.2 innings, allowing seven runs on eight hits in his third start of the year.
Casale went 4-for-4 with four runs scored in the lead-off spot for the Hawks, while Terry went 2-for-3 (three runs scored) and Rosenkranz went 3-for-4 with four RBI. Avella, who added two hits, drove in three runs.
Monmouth returns to action on May 12, when the Hawks host James Madison University in non-conference action. First pitch is set for 3:00 p.m.
