WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. - The Monmouth University baseball team ended its regular season slate with a 9-7 loss to visiting Fairleigh Dickinson University in Northeast Conference action on Sunday afternoon.

On Senior Day, senior reliever Andy McDonnell worked 5.0 scoreless innings with four strikeouts for the Hawks, who end the regular campaign at 22-25 overall and 15-17 in the NEC. Monmouth, which claimed the fourth seed in the upcoming Northeast Conference Tournament, finished with its first sub-.500 conference ledger since 1995.

After Monmouth starter Dan Smith registered the first out of the game on one pitch, Mike Eliasen singled, stole second, and made the score 1-0, when he crossed the plate on Steven LaForge's single to right.

Monmouth opened its half of the first frame with consecutive singles from Mike Casale and Ryan Terry, before Bobby Dombrowski shot a single through the right side to knot the score at 1-1 against FDU starting pitcher, Kyle Lydecker. The Hawks grabbed a 2-1 edge in the next at-bat, when Owen Stewart knocked in Terry from third with an RBI groundout.

Back-to-back singles from Jonathan Torres and JT Sherba put runners at the corners to open the FDU second inning, and the Knights tied the score at 2-2 on Scott Morrison's single to left. The Knights then advanced a pair of runners into scoring position on Ben Mersky's sacrifice bunt, and grabbed a 4-2 lead when Matt Holsman reached on a fielding error.

The Hawks pulled within 4-3 in the bottom of the third inning on Nick Pulsonetti's solo home run to left, giving the junior five on the season and 27 for his career, moving him into third place all-time in program history.

Monmouth reclaimed the lead in the home half of the fourth, 6-4, with a three-run frame. Anthony Lawrence, Matt McEndy and Tim McEndy each drew walks to start the inning, and with the bases loaded, Lawrence scampered home with the tying run, on a wild pitch. With the scored tied at 4-4, and a pair of runners in scoring position, Casale delivered a run-scoring chopping single over the head of the third baseman to give MU a 5-4 edge. A second wild pitch, on a swinging strike, allowed Tim McEndy to cross home during Terry's at-bat and push the Hawks in front 6-4.

FDU knotted the score at 6-6 in the top of the fifth when the Knights opened with three straight hits, including an Eliasen double and LaForge's two-run single to left. Fairleigh Dickinson then reclaimed the lead, 8-6, when DJ Robinson connected on a two-run homer to left center, his team-leading eighth of the year.

The Knights, who opened the frame with seven straight hits, increased the lead to 9-6 on Sherba's single through the left side, before reliever Andy McDonnell retired the side for Monmouth.

Monmouth loaded the bases with one away in the bottom of the fifth after Owen Stewart walked, Lawrence singled and Matt McEndy drew a walk, which knocked Lydecker from the game. With the bags packed, reliever Spencer Kelly registered a strikeout, but issued a walk to Casale, which allowed MU to climb within 9-7.

Terry dropped down a bunt single to open the home half of the eighth for Monmouth, and after Pulsonetti drew a walk from Kelly, Dombrowski popped out to the catcher on his sac bunt attempt. With the tying run at first, Stewart lined into a double play, to end the frame.

Smith (2-5) worked 4.0 innings, allowing eight runs on nine hits to pick up the loss. Steven Prosapio, who entered in the top of the fifth for the Hawks, surrendered a run on two hits, without retiring a batter.

McDonnell, who took over for Prosapio in the fifth, gave up four hits in 5.0 shutout innings.

Lydecker allowed seven runs on seven hits, with six walks, in 4.1 innings for FDU, while Kelly (3-5) earned the win behind 4.2 shutout frames for the Knights.

Monmouth, which has qualified for its fourth straight, and league-leading 14th Northeast Conference postseason, returns to action on Thursday afternoon, when the No. 4 seeded Hawks take on top-seed Sacred Heart in the opening game of the 2010 NEC Tournament, at TD Bank Ballpark in Bridgewater, N.J.

Prior to the game, Monmouth honored its senior class in a pregame ceremony, as Kyle Breese, Mike Casale, Bobby Dombrowski, Andy McDonnell, Tim McEndy, Nick Meyers, Nick Vallillo and Orin McKay were recognized.

OUTSTANDING SENIOR AWARD:
Every year on Senior Day, the Monmouth Baseball program not only recognizes athletic accomplishments but other qualities that define the true student-athlete. Over  the past five seasons, the baseball program has recognized a senior student-athlete for not only their contributions on the field, but off the field as well. Academic accomplishments, community involvement, as well as dedication to the program truly define "The Heart of the Hawk". Past recipients have included; Joe Cummings, Matt Coulson, Justin Esposito and Brett Holland.

2010 OUTSTANDING SENIOR AWARD WINNER: Kyle Breese.