RICHMOND, Va. - Adam Yunginger (Lancaster, Pa./Manheim Township) and T.J. Hunt (Wyckoff, N.J./Ramapo) combined to limit Virginia Commonwealth to one run on six hits as the Monmouth University baseball team defeated the Rams, 7-1, Sunday afternoon at The Diamond to take 2-of-3 in the weekend series. The Hawks also took 2-of-3 from the Rams in 2011. With the win, the Hawks improve to 5-8, while the Rams fall to 11-5. The Hawks scored all seven of their runs on two-out hits.

Yunginger went the first 4.2 innings, limiting VCU to just one earned run on four hits and five walks to earn the win. Hunt finished the game with 4.1 innings of scoreless, two-hit ball, walking one while striking out five to earn his first save of the season. Steve Wilgus (Woolwich, N.J./Gloucester Catholic) had three hits for the second straight day, while also scoring a run and driving in two. Owen Stewart (Howell, N.J./St. Rose) followed up his two hits yesterday with three today, scoring twice and driving in two. Jon Guida (Martinsville, N.J./Bridgewater Raritan) and Jake Gronsky (Danville, Pa./Danville Area) had two hits and a run scored each, with Guida also driving in two. Robbie Alessandrine (Sewall, N.J./Gloucester Catholic) also added a hit, a run and an RBI.

James Bunn led the VCU offense with two hits and a run scored, while Vim Machin walked to drive in the only VCU run and also added a hit. Ryan Farrar started on the mound for the Rams, allowing seven earned runs on 10 hits and a walk in five innings. He struck out two. 

The Hawks struck for four runs in the second inning to take a lead they would not relinquish. After Chris Perret (Morris Plains, N.J./Morris Catholic) walked and Stewart singled, Alessandrine came to the plate with two outs and ripped a single to center to score Perret. Wilgus then singled to score Stewart and Guida followed suit with a two-run single to score Alessandrine and Guida, staking the Hawks to a 4-0 lead.

Monmouth used small ball to add a run in the fourth. Stewart led off with a bunt single, before moving to second on Kyle Perry's (Toms River, N.J./Toms River South) sacrifice bunt. After a pop out for the second out, Wilgus ripped a two-out single to center to push Stewart across.

The Hawks added two more in the fifth to take a 7-0 lead. Guida and Gronsky led off the inning with hits, before Farrar got the next two batters out. Joe Bamford (Washington, N.J./Warren Hills Regional [Northampton C.C.]) was then hit by a pitch to load the bases and Stewart delivered a two-run single to center to score Guida and Gronsky.

In the bottom of the fifth, Bunn drew a one-out walk before Joey Cujas was hit by a pitch with two outs to put runners on first and second. After a Chris Ayers infield single loaded the bases, Yunginger walked Machin to push across the Rams' only run of the game. Hunt then replaced Yunginger and induced an inning-ending flyout. Hunt mowed down the Rams the rest of the way, limiting VCU to just two hits and one walk over the next four innings to secure the win and the save.  

The Hawks return to action Tuesday, when they travel to Princess Anne, Md., to take on Maryland-Eastern Shore. First pitch from Hawks Stadium is scheduled for 3 p.m.