HAMDEN, CT – Anthony Ciavarella (Phillipsburg, NJ/Phillipsburg) tossed eight one-run innings in game two as Monmouth swept Quinnipiac Saturday, winning 5-3 and 5-1 in the twinbill. MU is now 23-20 this year and 13-5 in the league, the first MAAC team to reach 13 wins this season.

“Ricky Dennis and Anthony Ciavarella really set the tone today,” said head coach Dean Ehehalt. “We manufactured some runs in Game 1 and in Game 2 we scored early and got a big hit from Justin Trochiano to get some breathing room. Our pitching was great all weekend. I am really proud of how hard we played, all in all a great "team" weekend.”

In the opener, MU and QU traded zeroes before Matthew Batten led off the fourth with a solo home run to make it 1-0 Bobcats. After the Hawks left two on in the fifth, they scored four in the sixth, all unearned. Cary Jacobson (Los Angeles, CA/Palisades) reached on an error at first before back-to-back singles from Dan Shea (Wilmington, DE/Salesianum) and Chris Gaetano (Madison Township, PA/Scranton Preparatory) tied the game. After a walk to Ryan Bailey (Mount Kisco, NY/Fox Lane), Clay Koniencki (Schwenksville, PA/Malvern Prep) reached on a fielder's choice that ended up scoring two on a throwing error to make it 3-1 Hawks. Koniencki later swiped third and came home on a throwing error on the stolen base attempt, making it 4-1 MU.

Batten homered in the sixth, and Joseph Burns homered leading off the seventh to cut it to 5-3 after Justin Trochiano (Morganville, NJ/Marlboro) scored on a wild pitch in the top of the seventh. Justin Andrews (Langhorne, PA/Neshaminy) came on to close out the game and secure the win.

Ricky Dennis (Warrington, PA/Central Bucks South) picked up the win with five strikeouts in six innings, walking none and allowing three runs in game two. Matthew Osieja took the loss for QU, giving up two unearned runs in the sixth.

In the nightcap, Ciavarella was brilliant, tossing seven shutout innings and eight total to lock down the weekend sweep. The Hawks gave him five runs of support, opening the scoring in the second when Pete Papcun (Brick, NJ/Christian Brothers Academy) singled and Jordan McCrum (Dallas, PA/Dallas Senior) doubled down the line. Trochiano scored a run on a fielder's choice, and Jacobson brought in a second with a base hit to make it 2-0.

MU got a run on a double play ball to make it 3-0 in the fourth and tacked on two in the seventh on Trochiano's two-run single to extend the advantage to 5-0. Rob Pescitelli hit a sacrifice fly to get Quinnipiac on the board in the eighth, but Kyle Ajjan (Chester Springs, PA/Downingtown East) came on for a spotless ninth to give the Hawks a series sweep.

Papcun had three hits and Trochiano drove in three in the final game of the series, while Ciavarella picked up the win.

MU is back to action next Saturday with a doubleheader against Iona beginning at noon.