FAIRFIELD, CT – Monmouth University Baseball (15-22-1, 5-6) homered twice in the second game to earn a split with Fairfield University (21-15, 10-4) on Saturday, winning 7-4 after falling in the opener, 6-2.

Colin McCreary (Clarks Summit, PA/Abington Heights) launched his first career home run in the second game, a two-run shot to make it 2-0 Hawks in the second. Clay Koniencki (Schwenksville, PA/Malvern Prep) waited just one inning to tie for the team lead in homers with five, launching a three-run shot to make it 5-0 MU. A JD Andreessen (Depew, NY/Lancaster/Campbell) sac fly and a Kyle Norman (Ellicott City, MD/Good Counsel/Buffalo) fielder's choice made it 7-0 after four and a half.

The Stags made a fifth inning push, loading the bases with no outs and getting on the board with a hit by pitch. Justin Guerrera followed with a two-run single, and Jack Gethings' RBI double cut the MU lead to 7-4 before Ryan Lillie (Ocean Township, NJ/Ocean/Rhode Island) retired eight of the last nine to lock down the win.

In the opener, Koniencki's sacrifice fly got MU on the board quickly but Fairfield answered with runs in each of the first three innings, including Tom Ryan's RBI double and sac fly to give the Stags a 4-1 lead. MU got an unearned run in the fifth to trim it to 4-2, but Ryan added another in the seventh on a fielder's choice and Guerrera plated one on a sacrifice fly to make it 6-2, the final.

NOTES AND QUOTES
"We battled in the first game. Regan pitched well, and it was a very good team effort to rebound in Game Two that enabled us to get the split. We responded nicely today. McCreary gave us a boost with the home run in the second. Our hitting approach in Game Two was solid as we were able to create a lot of opportunities. We had some good at bats in the third inning and then Clay got into one. Colin's and Clay's home runs definitely gave us breathing room. Rob Hensey keeps battling for us and gave us a chance to hand the ball to Lillie with the lead. Ryan was able to limit damage and finish it out. It was an important game for us and we look forward to getting back out there tomorrow." – Head Coach Dean Ehehalt
Game One
-Dan Klepchick started his team leading 10^th game of the season.
-The top three in the MU order all had a hit.
-Regan Dombroski's five innings out of the bullpen were a career high.
-For the first time in his career, Klepchick did not record a strikeout.

Game Two
-Colin McCreary launched his first career home run.
-It marked McCreary's fifth career multi-hit game.
-Rob Hensey earned his third win, which is second on MU.
-Max Goione posted his first career three-hit game.
-Ryan Lillie's three saves is most on MU.
-Kyle Norman extended his games reached base streak to 10.
-Danny Long posted his sixth multi-hit game of the season.
-Zach Schild tied Norman and Andreessen with his 12^th multi-hit game of the year.

NUMBERS CRUNCH

Game One
-Fairfield outhit MU 14-4.
-The Stags committed three errors to Monmouth's one.
-Dan Klepchick took the loss, allowing four runs in three innings.
-Regan Dombroski allowed two runs in five relief innings.
-Austin Pope earned his second win, allowing two runs, one earned, on three hits.

Game Two
-MU outhit Fairfield 12-7.
-Rob Hensey tossed four innings and allowed four runs to get the win.
-Ryan Lillie picked up his third save after three two-hit relief innings.
-Seven of nine Hawks to start had a hit.
-Starter Michael Sansone took the loss after giving up five runs, four earned, in 2.2 innings.

UP NEXT
-Monmouth and Fairfield wrap up the weekend series tomorrow, with first pitch now set for 2:00 p.m.