BASEBALL SELECTED THIRD IN MAAC PRESEASON POLL

Baseball March 01, 2015 Monmouth Sports Information

FAU SWEEPS DOUBLEHEADER FROM BASEBALL SUNDAY

BOCA RATON, Fla.– The Monmouth University baseball team dropped a doubleheader at Florida Atlantic on Sunday, losing the first game 11-0 before falling in the second contest by a 9-0 count. The losses drop MU to 0-6 in 2015, while FAU moves to 9-2 in the early season.

Roman Collins led the way in the first game for FAU, going two-for-four with three RBI's. Sean Labsan had three runs batted in as well in the opener, as five Owls put together multi-hit games. FAU starter Drew Jackson allowed just one hit through his six innings to earn the win, and three Florida Atlantic relievers gave up only four combined hits over the final three frames to solidify the shutout. MU starter T.J. Hunt (Wyckoff, N.J./Ramapo) surrendered nine runs on ten hits in 3.2 innings. Making his first collegiate appearance, freshman Mike Brambilla (Cherry Hill, N.J./Cherry Hill East) fired two scoreless innings, allowing a hit and fanning four. Jesse Fante (Moorestown, N.J./Moorestown) added his second scoreless inning of the season. Offensively in the first game for MU, Brad Rhoads (West Chester, Pa./West Chester East) and Pete Papcun (Brick, N.J./Christian Brothers Academy) both collected their first collegiate hits.

Labsan got the days scoring started in the second with an RBI double. FAU came back to score four in the third, powered by a pair of clutch hits. Labsan had one, a two-run double to right, preceded by Collins' two-run single through the right side. The Owls matched their third with a four-run fourth, getting RBI hits from Collins and Ricky Santiago as well as a two-run double to left center from Kevin Abraham. FAU would add a pair in the fifth, getting a sac fly from Brett Lashley and an RBI triple to left from Brendon Sanger.

Monmouth loaded the bases on base hits from Papcun, Rhoads and Ryan Bailey (Mount Kisco, N.Y./Fox Lane) in the ninth but were unable to plate a run and dropped the first game of the day by an 11-0 count.

Christian Dicks drove in six runs for FAU in the nightcap, going three-for four with two runs scored. Sanger drove in a pair as four other Owls added multiple hits. Robbie Coursel worked six shutout innings, striking out six and allowing five hits and one walk. A trio of Florida Atlantic relievers kept MU off the board for the rest of the way. Monmouth's Anthony Ciavarella (Phillipsburg, N.J./Phillipsburg) got the nod and surrendered seven hits and four runs in four innings. Justin Andrews (Langhorne, Pa./Neshaminy) allowed a run on two hits in two innings, and freshman Matt Littrell (Bayonne, N.J./Marist) turned in another scoreless performance, fanning one in a shutout frame.

After a walk to Lashley, Sanger hit a two-run home run to right to pit FAU to a 2-0 lead in the opening inning. Following two strong innings from Ciavarella, Dicks drove in his first two of the day with a double to center in the fourth. Dicks added a solo homer in the sixth on a drive to right center to make it 5-0 FAU before homering again in the eighth, this one a three-run shot to extend the lead to 9-0, which would be the final.

The Hawks return to the field next Friday, March 6, when they open a three-game set at East Carolina.

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

#38 T.J. Hunt: RHP; 6' 4"; Freshman

#4 Anthony Ciavarella: LHP; 6' 0"; Freshman

#3 Justin Andrews: LHP; 5' 9"; Freshman

#21 Ryan Bailey: C/INF; 6' 1"; Freshman

#8 Brad Rhoads: IF/OF; 5' 11"; Freshman

#43 Mike Brambilla: LHP; 5' 10"; Freshman

#1 Jesse Fante: RHP; Sophomore

#24 Matt Littrell: RHP; 6' 3"; Freshman

#12 Pete Papcun: IF/OF; 6' 0"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#38 T.J. Hunt
: 6' 4"; Freshman
: RHP

#4 Anthony Ciavarella
: 6' 0"; Freshman
: LHP

#3 Justin Andrews
: 5' 9"; Freshman
: LHP

#21 Ryan Bailey
: 6' 1"; Freshman
: C/INF

#8 Brad Rhoads
: 5' 11"; Freshman
: IF/OF

#43 Mike Brambilla
: 5' 10"; Freshman
: LHP

#1 Jesse Fante
: Sophomore
: RHP

#24 Matt Littrell
: 6' 3"; Freshman
: RHP

#12 Pete Papcun
: 6' 0"; Freshman
: IF/OF