WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ – Monmouth got several big performances in compiling 23 runs and 26 hits to sweep a doubleheader from Manhattan Saturday, winning 17-7 and 6-1 in the two games. Shaine Hughes (Sewell, NJ/Washington Township) combined to go 8-for-9 on the day, and Dan Klepchick (Warrington, PA/Central Bucks South) threw a complete game with eight strikeouts in the nightcap. MU has won six games in a row.

Hughes started his big day early with an RBI single in the first before Monmouth broke through in the second. Hughes drove in another run before a two-out dropped fly ball scored two and opened the door for the Hawks. Zach Schild (Lincroft, NJ/Middletown South) tripled home a run the other way and Johnny Zega (Lincroft, NJ/Middletown South) knocked in another, and MU leapt to a 6-0 lead in the second.

Matt Forlow got a run for Manhattan in the third, but the Hawks responded with four in the bottom half, sparked by Hughes' run-scoring base hit on an 11-pitch at bat. Kyle Norman (Ellicott City, MD/Good Counsel/Buffalo) doubled off the warning track in left center to score two, and JD Andreessen (Depew, NY/Lancaster/Campbell) lined a double just over the head of the left fielder to score another.

MU took advantage of Manhattan miscues in the fourth again, with two runs scoring on a dropped pop up with two down. Schild came through with a run-scoring double and John LaRocca () tripled into the right field corner to make it 15-1 Hawks. After the Jaspers scored an unearned run in the seventh, Hughes and Norman notched run-scoring hits in the bottom half to make it 17-2. Ricky Dennis (Warrington, PA/Central Bucks South) worked seven effective innings to win his fifth game, the eventual final 17-7.

Another lightning quick start jumpstarted the Blue and White in the second game, scoring four times in the first inning. Norman and Schild each went the other way to score runs, and Zega hit a ball to left that was misplayed to plate a third. LaRocca tucked another extra base hit inside the right field line to make it 4-0 MU almost immediately.

Klepchick ran into his most trouble of the day in the second, with a two-out walk leading to Alex Cerda's RBI double to get Manhattan on the board. A walk and a hit by pitch filled the bases before the freshman induced a fly ball to end the frame. From that point forward, Klepchick only allowed one more baserunner to reach second base the rest of the day.

The Hawks added two more single runs, with Hughes driving one home in the fourth and JP Walsh (Spring Brook Township, PA/North Pocono) singling in a run with the infield in after LaRocca led off the sixth with a triple. Klepchick completed the seven-inning contest to earn his third win and secure a series win for the Hawks.

NOTES AND QUOTES
"We got out to a big lead and it allowed us to relax a lot. Our guys were playing hard and we were opportunistic, taking advantage of some things and picking up some two-out, two-strike hits. We didn't tax our bullpen much and it's tough to pitch in a game like that. You can't get into a rhythm but Ricky did exactly what we needed him to and he battled as usual." – Dean Ehehalt on Game One

"Our energy was great, we had great fan support today and there was a wonderful presence and energy at the ballpark. Our kids played great, especially on defense, and those little things make a big difference. Klepchick was spectacular, he attacks the zone, he's a tough kid and he's all business." – Ehehalt on Game Two

"Early in the game I was falling behind too many hitters so in the third and fourth innings I really started pounding the zone and throwing strikes, and making my defense work by pitching to contact more instead of trying to go for strikeouts. I can go out there and throw any pitch I want and pitch to contact and I know my defense is going to be behind me." – Dan Klepchick

-Monmouth has swept a doubleheader in three consecutive weekends.
-The Hawks have won six games in a row, and five straight MAAC contests.
-Shaine Hughes combined to go 8-for-9 on the day and reached base nine times.
-Hughes' five hits tie a career high.
-Hughes' big day put him in the team lead in hitting for the season at .326.
-Monmouth's 17 runs in the first game tied a season high, while the 18 hits set a season best mark.
-Ricky Dennis won his fifth game to tie him for fourth in the MAAC.
-Dan Klepchick fired Monmouth's first complete game since Frank Trimarco in April 2016 at Quinnipiac.
-Eight of nine Hawks who started the first game had a hit on the day.
-Monmouth starting pitching allowed just two earned runs in 16 innings.
-MU is now 5-0 with Danny Long in the leadoff spot.

NUMBERS CRUNCH
-Monmouth outhit Manhattan 8-5 in the second game after an 18-11 mark in the opener.
-MU scored runs in eight of 14 innings where they hit today.
-Matt Simonetti took his fourth loss for Manhattan, as did Marc Galvan.
-MU has now won three of four series from Manhattan since joining the MAAC.
-There were 11 combined errors in the two games.

UP NEXT
-Monmouth and Manhattan conclude the three-game series tomorrow at noon on ESPN+.