CARY, NC- A pair of sophomores contributed strong performances on the mound and a third added three hits, as Jordan McCrum (Dallas, PA/Dallas Senior) and Joe Molettiere (Sellersville, PA/Pennridge) were strong on the hill and Clay Koniencki (Schwenksville, PA/Malvern Prep) led the offensive attack with three hits.
The Blue and White jumped out to an early lead, but Rhode Island scored runs in all three middle innings to take a 4-1 lead. MU strung together a three-run seventh to tie the game, collecting four hits in the frame and narrowly missing a fourth run when Justin Trochiano (Morganville, NJ/Marlboro) was cut down at the plate.
Neither team would score again until extra innings, as Monmouth threatened in the 10th but left the bases loaded in the frame. Rhode Island used three consecutive hits in the 13th to plate the winning run on Jordan Powell's single and take the Saturday contest in extras.
NOTES AND QUOTES
“Our guys played hard. We pitched out of some jams and just need to catch some breaks. Certainly today the breaks were few, we need to bounce back and keep getting better.” –head coach Dean Ehehalt
-Monmouth falls to 0-2 in the Irish Classic.
-Shaine Hughes extended his team-best hitting streak to all eight games this season.
-Clay Koniencki collected three hits for the second time in his career, doing so for the first time since last April 10 at Saint Peter's.
-Freshman JP Walsh started for the second game in a row in center field.
NUMBERS CRUNCH
-MU was outhit 13-12.
-Justin Trochiano was the only Hawk to drive in multiple runs, finishing with two hits and two RBI's.
-Chris Gaetano also added two hits and a run scored.
-Jordan McCrum struck out three and allowed three runs, two earned in five innings.
-Joe Molettiere surrendered just one run in six innings and fanned seven.
UP NEXT
-Monmouth wraps up the Irish Classic tomorrow against host Notre Dame at 11:00 a.m. in Cary, NC.
