RICHMOND, VA. - With the tying run on second base in the ninth, the Monmouth University baseball team was unable to convert and fell to Virginia Commonwealth University, 6-5, Saturday afternoon at The Diamond. With the loss, the Hawks, who trailed by as many as five runs, falls to 1-1 on the season while the Rams improve to 2-3 with the win.
After sophomore reliever Neil Harm (Hamilton, N.J./Steinert) worked out of a bases loaded jam in the bottom half of the eighth, the Hawks threatened in the ninth but senior Ryan Terry's (Levittown, Pa./Harry S. Truman) drive to center was corralled by Bill Cullen on the warning track, stranding classmate Steve Sanguiliano (Flemington, N.J./Hunterdon Central) on second base.
The Rams jumped on top in the first inning as Paul Nice, who reached on a fielder's choice, stole second and advanced to third on a senior catcher Cal Costanzo's (Edison, N.J./Edison) throwing error, was brought in by Brent Mikionis' single through the left side. Mikions later scored on Joey Cujas' single to give VCU a 2-0 lead.
The Hawks answered in the top of the second as junior Jamie Rosenkranz (Oakhurst, N.J./Ocean Township) led off with a single to second base. After sophomore Danny Avella (Matawan, N.J./Christian Brothers Academy) walked, Costanzo reached on a fielder's choice moving Rosenkranz to third. Junior Ed Martin's (Hazlet, N.J./Raritan (Brookdale CC) sacrifice fly to left brought home Rosenkranz, cutting the Rams' lead to one, 2-1.
With two outs in the bottom of the fourth, VCU score four runs on four hits, including a two-RBI single to left by Kyle Sutherland, to increase VCU's lead to 6-1.
MU cut the lead in half in the fifth as junior Josh Boyd (Port Murray, N.J./West Morris Central) singled to left and beat home the relay throw on Sanguiliano's double to center. Sanguiliano, who advanced to third on the throw home, scored on a pass ball by Rams' catcher Sutherland to make the score 6-3.
The Hawks continued to chip away at VCU's lead in the seventh as Owen Stewart (Howell, N.J./St. Rose) started things off with a leadoff walk followed by bunt single from Boyd. Sanguiliano's sacrifice bunt advanced both runners and Terry's groundout scored Stewart. Senior Nick Pulsonetti (Old Tappan, N.J./Northern Valley Regional-Old Tappan) followed by registering a single up the middle, plating Boyd, bringing the Hawks within one, 6-5, which was not enough for the Hawks.
Pulsonetti, Rosenkranz, and Boyd had two hits apiece for the Hawks.
Sophomore starter Pat Light (Colts Neck, N.J./Christian Brothers Academy) pitched four innings allowing six runs, three earned, on eight hits while striking out four was credited with his first loss of the season. Graduate Andy McDonnell (Newton Square, Pa./Archbishop Carroll) and Harm combined for four innings, two hits, three walks and one strikeout out of the bullpen. Kyle Haynes earned the win for VCU, pitching six innings allowing six hits, three runs, two which were earned, while Jonathan Watson threw two scoreless frames to pick up the save.
Monmouth and VCU will meet tomorrow in the rubber match of the three game series tomorrow, February 26th, with first pitch slated for 1 p.m.
