WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ – Monmouth University Baseball (17-25-1, 5-9) dropped both ends of a MAAC doubleheader on Saturday, falling to Manhattan College (17-26, 10-4) 5-2 before dropping the second game by a 6-2 count.

The Blue and White struck first in Game Two after Rob Hensey (Campbell Hall, NY/Goshen) allowed just one hit through the first three, punching out a pair. After a walk to Max Goione (Fair Haven, NJ/Rumson-Fair Haven/Siena), Danny Long (Sellersville, PA/Pennridge) hit a ball off the left field wall into the corner for a double to score the games first run. Manhattan responded in the fourth to score a run on a sac fly to make it 1-1 before breaking out for three runs in the fifth to take a 4-1 lead, with Alex Cerda and Matt Padre delivering run-scoring singles.

The Jaspers added two in the sixth on a Nick Cimillo two-run single to take a 6-1 lead. MU loaded the bases with nobody out in the sixth but could not convert, and TJ Stuart closed out his day with a complete game effort, allowing one final run in the seventh.

Long got the Hawks on the board in the second inning of Game One, hustling out a slow roller towards third after Goione doubled to put two in scoring position. Manhattan answered with the next five, with Cimillo capitalizing on two prior infield hits by punching a two-run single to right center. The visitors put three more across in the fifth, scoring on a hit by pitch, an error and a sacrifice fly to take a 5-1 lead.

Clay Koniencki (Schwenksville, PA/Malvern Prep) laced a single back through the middle to plate a seventh-inning run, getting MU within three, and the Hawks put two on in the ninth to bring the tying run to the dish but couldn't add any more, falling 5-2.

NOTES AND QUOTES
"We didn't execute very well today and it hurt us. Short turnaround with another game tomorrow." – Head Coach Dean Ehehalt

Game One
-MU dropped a MAAC series opener for the third time in five series this year.
-Danny Long posted his seventh multi-hit game of the season.
-Clay Koniencki had two hits for the 10^th time this year.
-Max Goione notched his fourth multiple-hit game of the season.
-Ryan Lillie threw his fourth consecutive scoreless outing and seventh overall this season.

Game Two
-All 10 MU hits came from the top five in the order.
-Clay Koniencki collected his 100^th career hit in his final at bat.
-Chris Hawryluk has not allowed an earned run in four outings this season, totaling 7.1 innings after a scoreless frame today.
-Kyle Norman leads the team in multi-hit games with 14.
-Zach Schild has been on base in 11 games in a row.

NUMBERS CRUNCH

Game One
-Manhattan outhit Monmouth 9-7.
-Each team left 10 runners on base.
-Each team made one error.
-James Kelly took the loss, allowing five runs, three earned, in four innings.
-Ryan Lillie fired five shutout relief innings for the Hawks.
-John Cain allowed one run in six innings with 12 strikeouts to earn his sixth win for Manhattan.
-Joe DiTorrice allowed a run in three innings to collect his second save.

Game Two
-MU outhit Manhattan 10-7.
-Each team left nine runners on base.
-Rob Hensey allowed three runs, two earned on two hits in 4.1 innings to take the loss.
-TJ Stuart struck out six in a complete game effort in getting the win for Manhattan.

UP NEXT
-Monmouth and Manhattan wrap up the three-game series tomorrow at noon on ESPN3.