WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. - The Monmouth University baseball team suffered its third home loss of the season, falling to in-state foe Rutgers, 8-1, Tuesday afternoon in non-conference action.  The Hawks, who received three outfield assists from Ed Martin (Hazlet, N.J./Raritan [Brookdale CC]) and one from Josh Boyd (Port Murray, N.J./West Morris Central), fall to 22-15 with the loss, while the victory improved the Scarlet Knight's record to 20-15 on the year.

Rutgers struck for three runs in the top of the first inning on a two-run single by Steve Zavala, while Pat Kivlehan touched home before Zavala was tagged out after intentionally getting caught up in a run down between first and second.

Monmouth got a run back in the home half of the first as Martin singled and advanced to second as Jamie Rosenkranz (Oakhurst, N.J./Ocean Township) was awarded first base on catcher's interference.  After back-to-back fly outs, Chris Perret (Morris Plains, N.J./Morris Catholic) roped a single to right field, chasing in Martin, which cut the Scarlet Knight's lead to 3-1.

Bill Hoermann's RBI single to left in the sixth, scoring Ross Costello, who doubled to lead off the frame, increased RU's advantage to three, 4-1.  RU added three runs in the eighth and one in the ninth run away with the 8-1 victory.

Monmouth starter Jonathan Shippee (Waterford, N.Y./Shenendehowa) suffered his first loss of the season.  The righty worked 5.2 innings on the hill allowing four runs on 10 hits, without yielding a walk, with three punch-outs.  T.J. Hunt (Wyckoff, N.J./Ramapo) suffered a pair of runs on three hits in 1.1 innings on the hill, while John McDonald (Langhorne, Pa./Conwell Egan Catholic), Adam Yunginger (Lancaster, Pa./Manheim Township) and Chris McKenna (Pine Beach, N.J./Toms River South) combined to work the final two innings out of the Hawks' bullpen.

Pat O'Leary, who held the Hawks hitless from the second inning until the seventh, earned the victory for Rutgers.  In 6.2 innings of action, the starter scattered three Monmouth hits which led to a run, while striking out two.  Charlie Law threw a one-hitter over the final 2.1 frames to earn his third save of the season.

Monmouth will continue its seven-game homestand on Friday at 3 p.m. as it opens a four-game Northeast Conference series with Mount St. Mary's.