HAMDEN, CONN. - The Monmouth University baseball team topped Quinnipiac in the Northeast Conference series finale, 8-4, Sunday afternoon at QU Baseball Field. The Hawks, who took three out of four games from the Bobcats this weekend, were lead by sophomore Danny Avella's (Matawan, N.J./Christian Brothers Academy) two-for-three performance, knocking in three runs, while scoring three on the afternoon.
Avella continued his offensive surge against the Bobcats' pitching as he gave MU a 3-0 lead in the first on his fourth home run of the series, a three-run blast, scoring Jamie Rosenkranz (Oakhurst, N.J./Ocean Township), who walked to lead off the game, and Ryan Terry (Levittown, Pa./Harry S. Truman), who reached on an error.
QU cut the lead in the bottom half of the first on an RBI single bringing the Bobcats within two, 3-1.
Monmouth (16-13, 11-5 NEC) added five runs in the fourth inning as Terry lead things off by getting hit by a pitch from QU's starter Anthony Cinelli and advanced on Avella's single to left field. Two batters later, Owen Stewart (Howell, N.J./St. Rose) connected on a RBI single up the middle, plating Terry. Cal Costanzo (Edison, N.J./Edison) followed with a RBI double, chasing home Avella, and rookie Jon Guida (Martinsville, N.J./Bridgewater Raritan) registered a two-run base hit to push the Hawks' lead to 7-1.
Quinnipiac (13-14, 9-7 NEC) scored three in the sixth on a bases loaded walk, a fielder's choice and a wild pitch to cut the lead MU's lead to 7-4.
Monmouth added an insurance run in the seventh on a sacrifice fly by Costanzo, scoring Avella who walked to lead off the frame, giving the Hawks an 8-4 advantage.
Costanzo and Guida each drove in two runs for the Hawks.
Monmouth starter Andy McDonnell (Newtown Square, Pa./Archbishop Carroll) earned his second win of the season, hurling 5.0 innings yielding four runs on five hits, while striking out two. Senior Matt Frazier (Whippany, N.J./Whippany Park) struck out four in 3.0 innings, while rookie Andrew McGee (Toms River, N.J./Toms River South) threw a scoreless ninth out of the bullpen.
Cinelli is credited with the loss, allowing seven runs on seven hits in 5.0 innings of work.
Monmouth returns to action on Tuesday, April 12th, as it travels to Lawrenceville, N.J. for a 3:30 p.m. non-conference battle with Rider.
