WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ – Clay Koniencki (Schwenksville, PA/Malvern Prep) lined a walk-off base hit down the right field line in the 10^th inning to lead Monmouth University Baseball (8-13-1) over Hofstra University (3-15) on Tuesday afternoon, 3-2. MU pitching allowed just three hits in the game, with three Hawks combining for 10 strikeouts off the mound.

A leadoff walk to JP Walsh (Spring Brook Township, PA/North Pocono) followed by JD Andreessen (Depew, NY/Lancaster/Campbell) driving a single to left put the Hawks in business in the 10^th before Johnny Zega (Lincroft, NJ/Middletown South) worked out a seven-pitch walk to fill the bases. Koniencki took the first pitch he saw and lined it inside the right-field line to score Walsh and give the Hawks their first walk-off win of the season.

Zega walked and Robbie Holmes (Bernardsville, NJ/Bernards) singled on the infield to set up Nick Campana (Downingtown, PA/Downingtown West) with two on, one out before the sophomore singled to left to bring home the first run of the day. Hofstra put the first two on in the fourth before a double play left just one aboard, but Rob Weissheier took advantage, homering to give the visitors a 2-1 lead. MU got it right back with Koniencki singling to lead off the bottom half and moving up two bases on a passed ball and a wild pitch. Holmes took advantage with a run-scoring hit to tie things at two, the final runs of regulation before MU won it in extras. After Weissheier's homer, MU pitching retired nine in a row and did not allow a hit until the eighth inning.

NOTES AND QUOTES

"I was very encouraged with our persistence today and our ability to have a next pitch mentality. Really happy for Clay. He is a such a good person and teammate and I know the guys were happy for him. We knocked on the door several times and were able to cash in in the tenth. Our pitching was solid; Kyle, Tyler and Regan pitched well. Defensively, we needed to be solid today in a close game. We are looking forward to starting MAAC play this weekend." – Head Coach Dean Ehehalt

"Our pitching was really good, we played defense really well and we got timely hits when we needed to. [In the last at bat] I was just looking for a good pitch to hit, I knew if I didn't get the job done the guys behind me would but I got a good pitch and put a good swing on it. When I rounded first base with the guys coming towards me, it was the best feeling ever." – Catcher Clay Koniencki

-Monmouth won via walk-off for the first time this season, and first time since last year's MAAC Tournament win over Siena.
-MU gave up just three hits, the fewest amount this season and least since May 5, 2018 at Saint Peter's.
-In his last two appearances against Hofstra, Tyler Ksiazek has 15 strikeouts in 13 innings.
-Ksiazek's six K's today were a season high.
-Regan Dombroski fired two shutout innings to earn his second win in the last week.
-Kyle Ajjan's four innings marked his longest appearance of the year in his third start.
-Ajjan's four K's are his most of the season and most since May 2, 2018 vs. Lafayette.
-Clay Koniencki posted his second multi-hit day in three games.
-Koniencki started at catcher for the first time since May 14, 2017.
-Holmes snapped a three-game hitless streak with a two-hit day.
-MU is now 8-2 all time against Hofstra.
-The Hawks are now 2-2 at home, concluding a four-game home stand.

NUMBERS CRUNCH
-MU outhit Hofstra 8-3.
-The Hawks committed the only error of the game.
-All of MU's hits came from the 3-8 spots in the order.
-Jimmy Joyce took the Hofstra loss, allowing the game-winning run in relief.
-Jack Jett started for Hofstra, tossing two innings and allowing a run on two hits.
-The Pride used five pitchers, while MU used three.

UP NEXT
-MU opens conference play this weekend, beginning with a doubleheader Saturday at noon at Saint Peter's.