NORWICH, CONN. - The Monmouth University baseball team, Northeast Conference Regular Season Champions, ended its 2011 campaign with a 9-2 loss to second-seeded Sacred Heart University in the Championship Round of the NEC Tournament, at Dodd Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Monmouth, which advanced to the Championship Round by virtue of its 6-3 victory over CCSU earlier today, ends its 2011 campaign 36-19, one win away from tying the program record for single-season victories.
Sacred Heart jumped on Monmouth early with three runs in the top of the second inning. After a leadoff walk to John Murphy, Hunter Phillips dumped a base hit into the gap in right-center, moving Murphy to third base. Derick Horn delivered an RBI groundout to first and Dave Boisture followed with a two run shot down the right field line off of Hawks' starter Andy McDonnell, to extend the lead to 3-0.
In the fifth, the Pioneers added two more runs off McDonnell. M.J. Schifano led off with a single and Steve Tedesco worked a walk, before J.J. Edwards bunted them into scoring position. John McDonald came in from the bullpen for MU and gave up a sacrifice fly to Rob Griffith to plate Schifano. Murphy then stroked an RBI standup triple to right center that scored Tedesco, giving SHU a 5-0 cushion.
The scoring continued for Sacred Heart in the sixth, as it put four more runs on the board in the frame. Boisture collected another RBI with a single through the hole on the right side, while Tedesco drove in two with a double to right and then came around to score on a fielder's choice off the bat of Edwards.
Monmouth loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom of the ninth as Ryan Terry and Nick Pulsonetti led off with singles, before a fielding error packed the bags. With the bases loaded, a fielder's choice groundout and Cal Costanzo's sacrifice fly made the score 9-2.
Chris Perret (Morris Plains, N.J./Morris Catholic) had two hits for Monmouth in the contest, while Josh Boyd added an infield hit in the eighth to account for the Hawks' three hits.
MU was held to five base runners by Sacred Heart starter Kody Kerski over the first eight frames. Kerski earned the win behind his complete game, allowing one earned run on six hits, with three strikeouts.
McDonnell (5-1) was saddled with the loss for the Hawks, working 4.1 frames, allowing five runs on six hits, as Monmouth used a total of seven pitchers.
Nick Meyers, Pat Light and Terry were each named to the 2011 Northeast Conference All-Tournament Team.
Sacred Heart, now 34-21, will advance and represent the Northeast Conference in the upcoming NCAA Regionals.
