WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ – Monmouth hit a season-high four home runs and only allowed one run on the day as they took their fourth straight MAAC series, defeating Siena 7-1 on Saturday. MU is 11-1 in its last 12 conference contests, winning every series.

James Kelly (Oceanport, NJ/Shore Regional) started and retired the first eight, facing the minimum through three innings. While he was posting zeroes, Monmouth got on the board, first on Pete Papcun's (Brick, NJ/Christian Brothers Academy) sacrifice fly. Papcun followed that with a two-run homer on a 3-2 pitch in the third to extend the MU lead to 3-1.

Kelly worked into trouble in the fourth as Siena got on the board when Brian Kelly singled home a run. MU was able to turn a double play when Jordan Bishop flew out, as Norman fired in to catch Joe Drpich on the bases. The Hawks turned defense into offense, with Danny Long (Sellersville, PA/Pennridge) leading off the bottom of the inning with a home run. Two batters later, Kyle Norman (Ellicott City, MD/Good Counsel/Buffalo) launched a two-run shot of his own to extend the MU lead to 6-1.

Jordan McCrum (Dallas, PA/Dallas Senior) and Joe Molettiere (Sellersville, PA/Pennridge) combined to throw three shutout innings, with McCrum retiring all three batters he faced. Shaine Hughes (Sewell, NJ/Washington Township) added a solo home run in the sixth before Monmouth gave the ball to Austin Counsellor (Salem, NJ/Woodstown/Gloucester CC) with a 7-1 advantage. Counsellor retired all six batters he faced to close out the game.

NOTES AND QUOTES
"We came out playing hard and we had a lot of energy which is part of our success all year and something that we preach. We got up early and it allowed us to settle in and use our bullpen while playing more comfortable." – Dean Ehehalt

-Monmouth is now tied for the MAAC lead in wins with 14.
-Monmouth hit four home runs in a game for the first time since February 25, 2017 at Furman.
-MU has won four straight MAAC series and five of seven this season.
-The Hawks are 11-1 in their last 12 conference games.
-Austin Counsellor lowered his season ERA to under 1.
-The top four players in Monmouth's order all homered.
-All seven runs were driven in by the top four players in the lineup.
-Monmouth relief pitching allowed one hit in five innings, striking out five.

NUMBERS CRUNCH
-Monmouth outhit Siena 13-4.
-Jordan McCrum picked up his third win of the season.
-Ryan Bellomo took his second loss of the year for the Saints.
-No Saints had multiple hits in the game.
-Monmouth improves to 14-7 in the MAAC, while Siena is now 12-9.

UP NEXT
-Monmouth plays its final non-conference game of the season Tuesday at Rutgers.