NEWARK, DE – Monmouth Baseball scored three runs in the eighth inning to tie the game, but Delaware got one back in the bottom of the inning and held on for a series-clinching win over the Hawks in Newark Sunday, 7-6. Dan Abate (Wayne, NJ/Wayne Hills) had two hits and scored twice for the Blue and White.

Diaz Nardo got UD on the board with an RBI double in the first, but Danny Long (Sellersville, PA/Pennridge) responded in the second with a two-run single to left to give MU the lead. Calvin Scott homered to tie the game in the bottom of the frame before Pete Papcun (Brick, NJ/Christian Brothers Academy) gave MU the lead back with an RBI single.

The back-and-forth game continued as the Blue Hens scored twice in the fifth to take the lead, but added two in the sixth and led 6-3 after seven. In the eighth, Clay Koniencki (Schwenksville, PA/Malvern Prep) capped a three-run inning with a game-tying two-RBI double, making it six-all.

UD scored on a sacrifice bunt in the eighth to take the 7-6 advantage before MU threatened in the ninth. The Hawks had runners at first and third with one out and filled the bases with two away, but could not tie the game, falling at Delaware by a run.

NOTES AND QUOTES
"Certainly a tough one today for the guys.  I was very happy with the toughness our team played with all weekend. Back-to-back days in which the game went down to the last pitch; difficult to accept when you don't win. However, I see so much fight in this group that good things will come out of games like these." – Dean Ehehalt

-Kyle Norman pushed his consecutive games streak of reaching base to 12.
-Pete Papcun had multiple hits for the fifth time this season, and second time in the series at Delaware.
-Mike Brambilla made his season debut.
-Danny Long drove in multiple runs for the sixth time in his career and first time this season.
-Shaine Hughes walked four times, the most by a Hawk this season.
-Tyler Ksiazek made his first start of the season.
-Ryan Steckline made his first appearance on the mound since February 25, and has still not allowed a run in his freshman season.

NUMBERS CRUNCH
-Each team registered 10 hits on the day.
-Mike Brambilla took the loss in his first appearance of the season, allowing an eighth-inning run.
-Monmouth falls to 4-8, while Delaware is 8-5.
-Colman Vila earned his second win of the series, while James Meeker picked up his second save.
-Seven different Hawks recorded hits in the game.

UP NEXT
-Monmouth travels to Villanova on Wednesday for a non-conference game with the Wildcats at 3:00 p.m.