WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. - Trailing by a run in the ninth inning, Temple University loaded the bases with one out, but Monmouth University reliever
Joe Loiodice (Forest Hill, Md./John Carroll) caught Jordan Queja looking at strike three and induced a groundout by Nick Lustrino to record his first career save and secure a 3-2 victory for the Hawks, Tuesday afternoon at MU
Baseball Field. Senior
Jonathan Shippee (Waterford, N.Y./Shenendehowa) worked a career-best 7.0 innings for the Blue and White (19-12, 9-3 NEC), scattering five hits, yielding one run with five strikeouts en route to his third win of the season.
Danny Avella (Matawan, N.J./Christian Brothers Academy) got the Hawks on the board in the first inning, taking a pitch the opposite way, down the left field line for a double, allowing
Jake Gronsky (Danville, Pa./Danville Area), who was hit a pitch a batter earlier, to come all away around to score from first.
Chris Perret (Morris Plains, N.J./Morris Catholic) roped a single to right, plating Avella, who slid in under the tag to stake MU to a 2-0 lead.
Lustrino's RBI single to center field cut the Hawks' lead in half, 2-1, in the third inning.
The Blue and White gained an insurance run in the seventh on
Josh Boyd's (Port Murray, N.J./West Morris Central) seeing-eye single through the left side, plating
Owen Stewart (Howell, N.J./St. Rose), who stole second after reaching on a fielder's choice.
With MU ahead by two, 3-1, Temple earned the run back in the top half of the eighth on Forster Dunigan's run-scoring single, bringing the Owls again within one, 3-2.
Neil Harm (Hamilton, N.J./Steinert) threw an inning out of the Hawks' bullpen, allowing a run on two hits, while
Charlie Battis (Hamilton, N.J./Notre Dame) started the ninth for MU, not allowing a hit in a third of an inning.
Eric Peterson is tagged with the loss for the Owls as the starter allowed two runs on two hits with three punch-outs.
Monmouth returns to action on Wednesday, April 11th, as it entertains Rider at 3 p.m. in West Long Branch.
