WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. - The Monmouth University baseball team swept Central Connecticut State, 2-0 and 3-2, in a pivotal Northeast Conference doubleheader, Saturday afternoon. The Hawks (12-11, 7-3 NEC) received a dominating outing from game one starter Nick Meyers (East Brunswick, N.J./East Brunswick) and a walk-off RBI single from Ed Martin (Hazlet, N.J./Raritan [Brookdale CC]) in the bottom of the seventh inning in the nightcap.
In game one, a nine-inning affair, Meyers (4-1) picked up the win pitching 7.2 innings of scoreless ball, striking out a career-high eight batters.
With one out in the first inning, MU threatened as freshman Jake Gronsky (Danville, Pa./Danville Area) singled down the left field line and advanced to third on Ryan Terry's (Levittown, Pa./Harry S. Truman) double. CCSU's starter Todd Savatsky got out of the jam getting Danny Avella (Matawan, N.J./Christian Brothers Academy) to line out to right and caught Nick Pulsonetti (Old Tappan, N.J./Northern Valley Regional) looking to keep the game scoreless.
MU broke the ice in the fifth inning as Josh Boyd (Port Murray, N.J./West Morris Catholic) earned a one out free pass from Savatsky and came around to score on Jamie Rosenkranz (Oakhurst, N.J./Ocean Township) RBI triple to the right-center field gap. Gronsky followed with a RBI double to right, plating Rosenkranz, giving the Hawks a 2-0 cushion.
In the top half of the seventh inning, Andy Lalli worked a one out walk and Danny Hickey connected on the first pitch and sent a line drive to second base where Terry dove, snagged the ball and threw to first basemen Owen Stewart (Howell, N.J./St. Rose) to double up Lalli to get out of the frame.
With two down in the eighth Meyers gave up and single to Sean Miller-Jones and was replaced by Matt Frazier (Whippany, N.J./Whippany Park) who gave up a walk to Pat Epps. Freshman Andrew McGee (Toms River, N.J./Toms River South) came in and threw a 0-2 fastball to Mitch Wells which painted the black for a called strike three. McGee returned in the ninth to earn his fourth save of the year.
Todd Savatsky s credited with his first loss of the season, allowing two runs on eight hits in 6.0 innings.
In the nightcap, a seven-inning contest, Terry lead off the home half of the seventh with a single down the left field line and moved to second Avella's sacrifice bunt. After CCSU's starter Dave Kransnowiecki intentionally walked Pulsonetti, Martin took the first pitch to the opposite field for the game-winning hit.
The Blue Devils tied the game 2-2 in the top of the seventh on Well's single up the middle off of reliever McGee that allowed Miller-Jones to score, who doubled to lead off the frame.
The Hawks loaded the bases with one out in the first inning as Gronsky doubled to left-center field, Terry earned a walk, and Avella singled through the right side, yet Kraznovyetsky struck out Pulsonetti and Ed Martin (Hazlet, N.J./Raritan [Brookdale CC]) to escape the jam.
The Blue Devils got on the board in the third, when AJ Lowers walked and moved to third via a throwing error by Avella on Tyler Caserta's sacrifice bunt attempt. Jake Matuszak followed with an RBI single to left, giving CCSU a 1-0 lead.
The Blue and White responded in the bottom half of the frame, as Terry lead off with a single and swiped second to get into scoring position and later advanced to third on Pulsonetti's single. Martin followed with a groundout to second, where Miller-Jones missed the swipe tag on Pulsonetti which allowed Terry to score to knot the game at 1-1.
With one out in the sixth, JP Sportman singled and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Dylan DelaCruz. After Lalli recorded an infield single, moving Sportman to third, Frazier came in and allowed a two out walk, which set up the battle with pinch-hitter Tyler McIntyre. After an eight pitch showdown, Frazier bested McIntyre with a fastball towards the outer half of the plate, to keep the game deadlocked at 1-1.
Monmouth jumped ahead in the sixth as Stewart lead off with a single and advanced to second on Cal Costanzo's (Edison, N.J./Edison) sacrifice. Two batters later, Rosenkranz reached on a throwing error by Sportman allowing Stewart to score to give the Blue and White a one run lead, 2-1.
Terry connected for three hits in the second game while Martin drove in two out of the Hawks three runs.
McGree (4-1) earns the victory, throwing 1.0 inning yielding one run, while fanning two. Starter Dan Smith (Marlton, N.J./Cherokee) allowed one unearned run and struck out a career-high six in 5.2 innings of work. Frazier worked faced two batters, striking out one.
Monmouth and Central Connecticut State continue its four game series tomorrow, April 3rd, with a doubleheader at noon. Game one will be a seven-inning contest with Pat Light (Colts Neck, N.J./Christian Brothers Academy) schedule to pitch, followed by Andy McDonnell (Newtown Square, Pa./Archbishop Carroll) throwing in the nine-inning contest.
