LAKEWOOD, N.J. - The Monmouth University baseball team fell to the Lakewood BlueClaws, Single-A affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies, 3-0, in an exhibition game Tuesday night at FirstEnergy Park. The Hawks (13-12, 8-4 NEC) received a solid outing from freshman Stephen Frey (Pennsville, N.J./St. Mark's) who made his first start for MU.
"Tonight was a great night for our team and our program," said head coach Dean Ehehalt in his 18th season with the Hawks. "It was a great experience for our players to play in a first class venue against some outstanding minor leaguers. I also thought we represented collegiate baseball in a very positive manner and hopefully we can make this an annual event."
Frey threw 5.0 innings allowing two runs on five hits striking out three.
Jamie Rosenkranz (Oakhurst, N.J./Ocean Township) reached on a throwing error by the shortstop to lead off the game and freshman Jake Gronsky (Danville, Pa./Danville) singled moving Rosenkranz to second. Yet BlueClaws' starter Colby Shreve recorded a strike out, a pop up and a groundout to get out of the inning unscathed.
The Phillies' 2008 first round pick Anthony Hewitt connected on a two-run home run in the fourth inning to give the BlueClaws a 2-0 lead. The Claws tacked on another run on an RBI single by Carlos Perdomo in the sixth to go ahead, 3-0.
The Hawks threatened again in the sixth as Jon Guida (Martinsville, N.J./Bridgewater Raritan) lead of the frame with a single and Chris Perret (Morris Plains, N.J./Morris Catholic) and Owen Stewart (Howell, N.J./St. Rose) earned free passes to load the bases with two-outs, but Bryan Morgando, a fourth-round draft pick in 2010, got Ed Martin (Hazlet, N.J./Raritan [Brookdale CC]) to ground out to end the inning.
Gronksy, Martin, Tom Valichka (Pennsville, N.J./St. Mark's), Stewart and Guida recorded hits for Monmouth, which used wooden bats in the contest.
Joe Loiodice (Forest Hill, Md./John Carroll) and Nick McNamara (Branchburg, N.J./Somerville) threw out of the bullpen for the Hawks.
Monmouth returns to action tomorrow as it travels to Easton, Pennsylvania for a non-conference battle with Lafayette. First pitch is slated for 3:30 p.m. as junior John McDonald (Langhorne, Pa./Conwell Egan Catholic) is scheduled to start.
