OFFENSIVE OUTBURST PUSHES BASEBALL PAST BRYANT, 17-3

SMITHFIELD, R.I. - In the highest offensive output of the season, the Monmouth University baseball team defeated Bryant University, 17-3, in the first game of its four-game Northeast Conference series at Bryant's Baseball Complex. The Hawks scattered 22 hits, seven for extra bases, and seven of the nine starters recorded multi-hit performances.

The Blue and White evened up their record to 8-8 and improved to 4-1 in league play while the Bulldogs dropped to 7-11 overall and 1-4 in conference action.

The Hawks jumped on top 1-0 in the first inning on Danny Avella's (Matawan, N.J./Christian Brothers Academy) sacrifice fly, scoring senior Ryan Terry (Levittown, Pa./Harry S. Truman) who lead off the game with a single and advanced to third on Ed Martin's (Hazlet, N.J./Raritan [Brookdale CC]) walk and Jamie Rosenkranz's (Oakhurst, N.J./Ocean Township) sacrifice bunt.

MU tacked on two more runs in the third when Rosenkranz doubled to left-center field, chasing home Martin who reached on an error by Dan Muscatello. Rosenkranz scored two batters later on Owen Stewart's (Howell, N.J./St. Rose) sac fly to left field, putting MU ahead 3-0.

Bryant got on the board in the fourth on an RBI single by Mike Delponte, to cut Monmouth's lead to 3-1, but the Hawks responded with nine runs over the next two innings to take a commanding 12-1 advantage.

In the fifth, Cal Costanzo (Edison, N.J./Edison) drove in two runs on a double to left field, plating Nick Pulsonetti (Old Tappan, N.J./Northern Valley Regional) and Avella.

With one out in sixth, Rosenkranz and Avella recorded back-to-back singles followed by RBI base hits by Pulsonetti and Stewart, while freshman Jake Gronsky (Danville, Pa./Danville Area) recorded a two run single and advanced to second on an error. After
David O'Brien relieved Matt Griswold for the Bulldogs, Costanzo, Josh Boyd (Port Murrary, N.J./West Morris Central) and Terry each doubled capping off the seven-run inning.

MU added five runs in the eighth on a RBI triple by Boyd, a Terry groundout and a three-run home run by Avella, his second round tripper of the year.

MU starter Nick Meyers (East Brunswick, N.J./East Brunswick) picked up his third win of the season allowing one run on four hits and striking out three Bulldogs in 7.0 innings of work. Junior Stephen Frey (Washingtonville, N.Y./Washingtonville) yielded two runs on two hits in one inning of action and Joe Loiodice (Forest Hill, Md./John Carroll) pitched a perfect ninth, fanning two, for the Blue and White. Peter Kelich is saddled with the loss, allowing eight runs on 13 hits in 5.1 innings.

Monmouth and Bryant return to action tomorrow, March 26th, with a doubleheader at 1 p.m. Sophomore Pat Light (Colts Neck, N.J./Christian Brothers Academy) is scheduled to pitch game one, while classmate Dan Smith (Marlton N.J./Cherokee) is slated for game two.

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Players Mentioned

#12 Nick Meyers: LHP; 6' 2"; Sophomore

#33 Cal Costanzo: C; 5' 11"; Freshman

#36 Nick Pulsonetti: OF; 6' 1"; Freshman

#1 Ryan Terry: IF; 6' 0"; Freshman

#4 Josh Boyd: OF; 6' 1"; Freshman

#34 Joe Loiodice: RHP; 6' 0"; Freshman

#24 Jamie Rosenkranz: IF; 5' 10"; Freshman

#21 Owen Stewart: IF; 6' 0"; Freshman

#16 Danny Avella: IF; 5' 11"; Freshman

#42 Pat Light: RHP; 6' 6"; Freshman

#22 Dan Smith: LHP; 6' 2"; Freshman

#27 Stephen Frey: LHP; 6' 0"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#12 Nick Meyers
: 6' 2"; Sophomore
: LHP

#33 Cal Costanzo
: 5' 11"; Freshman
: C

#36 Nick Pulsonetti
: 6' 1"; Freshman
: OF

#1 Ryan Terry
: 6' 0"; Freshman
: IF

#4 Josh Boyd
: 6' 1"; Freshman
: OF

#34 Joe Loiodice
: 6' 0"; Freshman
: RHP

#24 Jamie Rosenkranz
: 5' 10"; Freshman
: IF

#21 Owen Stewart
: 6' 0"; Freshman
: IF

#16 Danny Avella
: 5' 11"; Freshman
: IF

#42 Pat Light
: 6' 6"; Freshman
: RHP

#22 Dan Smith
: 6' 2"; Freshman
: LHP

#27 Stephen Frey
: 6' 0"; Freshman
: LHP