WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ– On a 3-2 pitch with two out in the bottom of the eighth and the score tied at four, senior Dan Shea (Wilmington, DE/Salesianum) launched a grand slam over the right center field wall to give Monmouth baseball the lead and eventual win in the conference opener over Rider, 8-4. Frank Trimarco (Merrick, NY/Sanford H. Calhoun) worked eight innings and got the win as MU moves to 9-11 and 1-0 in conference and the Broncs fall to 3-15, 0-1 in the league.

"Frank Trimarco threw well and Danny Shea got a big hit but I thought our team also played great defense and had great energy," said head coach Dean Ehehalt. "It's nice to be playing back at home and get a win."

Trailing 4-3 heading into the bottom of the eighth, the Hawks posted a five-run inning. Chris Gaetano (Madison Township, PA/Scranton Preparatory) drew a leadoff walk and stole second, and Ryan Bailey (Mount Kisco, NY/Fox Lane) knotted the game at four with an RBI single that eluded rider first baseman Riley Mihalik, scoring Gaetano. Following a sacrifice bunt, Grant Lamberton (Newark, DE/Salesianum)'s fourth hit of the day via an infield single, a wild pitch, and an intentional walk, Shea came to the plate with the bases loaded and two outs. On a 3-2 count, the senior outfielder blasted a grand slam to right center field, his third homer of the year to give the Hawks an 8-4 lead.

That would prove to be the difference, as sophomore Justin Andrews (Langhorne, PA/Neshaminy) took the mound in the top of the ninth and secured the victory. Following a leadoff single, Andrews halted Rider by inducing a 4-6-3 double play that ended the game.

Trimarco retired the side in the first and second innings, and Monmouth jumped to a 1-0 lead after Gaetano scored in the bottom of the second on a passed ball. Gaetano singled and advanced to third on a Bailey single before crossing the plate for the Hawks.

Rider posted all four of their runs in the bottom of the third inning. Riley Mihalik hit a leadoff single to get things going and would eventually score after a Teagan Piechnick RBI double to right center. Piechnick moved over to third following a base hit from James Locklear, and was eventually brought home by catcher Lee Lipinski to give the Broncs a 2-1 lead. Rider extended its lead on the next batter as Dalton Mayberry hit a two-run double to center field that gave the Broncs a 4-1 lead.

Those would end up being the only runs given up by Monmouth, as Trimarco settled in and gave the Hawks eight solid innings and seven strikeouts.

Monmouth inched closer in the bottom of the fifth starting with a leadoff single from Lamberton. He moved to second after sophomore Shaine Hughes (Sewell, NJ/Washington Township) was hit by a pitch, and Shea picked up his first of five RBI's on the day as he singled home Lamberton. Senior Cary Jacobson (Los Angeles, CA/Palisades) brought the Hawks within one as he laced a single through the left side, scoring Hughes.

Trimarco earned his second win with eight innings, allowing four runs on six hits with seven strikeouts and one walk. Andrews tossed a scoreless ninth, and Lamberton added four hits for the Blue and White as Shea drove in five runs, four of which came with one swing in the eighth.

Anthony Arneth allowed the grand slam and took the loss for Rider, while started Nick Margevicius allowed three runs, two earned on nine hits through 5.1 innings and took a no decision. Mike Volaski was the lone Bronc to post two hits.

"Dan [Shea] takes a lot of pride in what he does and I was really happy for him and Grant Lamberton offensively," added Ehehalt.

The teams wrap up action tomorrow with a doubleheader set to begin at noon in West Long Branch. Both games will be broadcast on ESPN3.