CARY, NC – Monmouth University's baseball team fell to Army West Point in the bottom of the ninth, 6-5 Sunday afternoon at the USA Baseball Complex in Cary, NC. Senior shortstop Robbie Alessandrine (Sewell, NJ/Gloucester Catholic) had three hits and drove in four of Monmouth's five runs.

Down a run heading to the ninth, Ryan Bailey (Mount Kisco, NY/Fox Lane) drew a leadoff walk and pinch-runner Justin Trochiano (Morganville, NJ/Marlboro) went to second on a ground out. Alessandrine's third hit of the day brought home the tying run. Justin Reece started the bottom of the inning with a base hit for Army, and after Josh White reached on a fielder's choice, he stole second with one out. A walk and a double steal put runners on second and third, and an error on a ball hit towards second by Brandon Lee gave the Black Knights the win.

Seven of the games' 11 runs were scored in the first two innings, with MU jumping out to a 1-0 lead on a Cary Jacobson (Los Angeles, CA/Palisades) RBI single. Army got the run back in the bottom of the inning on an MU error.

Alessandrine doubled home Aidan Favia (Short Hills, NJ/Millburn) and Ryan Crowley (Cornwall-on-Hudson, NJ/Iona Preparatory) in the second after they reached on a single and a walk respectively. Army responded with three in the home half of the second, getting two on a White double to take a 4-3 lead. A wild pitch brought home a fifth run in the sixth to make it 5-3 Army.

The Blue and White got one back in the seventh when Grant Lamberton (Newark, DE/Salesianum) singled and went to second on a wild pitch. Alessandrine brought him around on a base hit to cut the lead to 5-4.

Alessandrine led Monmouth with three hits and four RBI's, and seven different Hawks registered a hit. Freshman Kyle Ajjan (Chester Springs, PA/Downingtown East) took the loss, tossing 2.2 innings in relief and allowing a run on one hit with four strikeouts. Mike Brambilla (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill East) made his first career start, throwing six innings and allowing five runs with eight strikeouts.

White had two runs scored and two driven in for the Black Knights. Starter Franklin Garrison worked seven innings, allowing four runs on seven hits with four strikeouts. Justin French got the win, allowing a run on one hit in 1.2 innings.

The Hawks return to action next weekend at the Wofford Tournament to take on UNC-Asheville Friday afternoon at 12:00 p.m.