HAMDEN, CT – Quinnipiac scored six times in the fifth inning en route to an 8-3 series opening win over Monmouth Baseball on Saturday afternoon in Hamden, CT. Pete Papcun (Brick, NJ/Christian Brothers Academy) had two hits for the Blue and White, while Quinnipiac's Liam Scafariello hit a three-run home run for the Bobcats.

Monmouth took an early 1-0 lead in the fifth after a Papcun double, with Zach Schild (Lincroft, NJ/Middletown South) singling him in to give Ricky Dennis (Warrington, PA/Central Bucks South) an early advantage. Dennis did not allow a run through four, including pitching through runners at second and third with nobody out in the fourth.

MU made three errors in the fifth inning, allowing QU to score six times in the frame. Ian Ostberg singled in the first run to tie the game, and the Bobcats added runs on a fielder's choice and an error before Scafariello hit a three-run homer, extending the lead to 6-1.

Monmouth responded with a pair of runs on an error and a Shaine Hughes (Sewell, NJ/Washington Township) ground out in the sixth to trim it to 6-3, but QU got the runs back with single tallies in the sixth and eighth, the latter coming on an Evan Vulgamore solo home run.

NOTES AND QUOTES
"Our inability to make a few routine plays in the fifth inning really hurt. We need to bounce back tomorrow and play our style of baseball." – Dean Ehehalt

-Pete Papcun posted his eighth multi-hit game of the season.
-Papcun has reached base in seven games in a row.
-The game marks the first MAAC series opener Monmouth has lost this season in three games.
-Monmouth now leads the all-time series 42-22.
-Of the seven runs allowed by Dennis, only one was earned.
-MU pitching combined to walk just one batter.
-The game was originally scheduled to be the first of a Saturday doubleheader, but field conditions delayed the start until 3:00 p.m.

NUMBERS CRUNCH
-Monmouth was outhit in the game 9-6.
-Each team made three errors.
-Dennis took his fifth loss, allowing seven runs, one earned, on eight hits through six.
-Kyle Ajjan allowed just one run through two relief innings.
-Taylor Luciani picked up his fourth win for QU, allowing one earned run and three total on five hits with five K's.
-Two QU relievers combined to throw three shutout innings.
-The Bobcats are now 4-0 in the MAAC, while MU is 3-4.

UP NEXT
-Monmouth and Quinnipiac conclude the series tomorrow in Hamden with a doubleheader beginning at noon.