WASHINGTON, DC – Monmouth University Baseball (5-8) got 7.1 shutout innings out of the bullpen and Jalen Jenkins (Waxhaw, NC/Cuthbertson/Brunswick CC) added three hits as the Hawks took the rubber game from George Washington University (8-7) on Sunday, 4-2.

Monmouth jumped to a 2-0 lead in the second, when a hit by pitch and an infield hit set up Matt Graber (Newton, MA/Dexter) to single home the days first run. MU added another later in the inning to go up 2-0. GW got those runs right back in the bottom half, loading the bases with nobody out and putting the first four aboard, the fourth coming in the form of Joe Biancone's RBI single to cut it to 2-1. The Hawks spun a big double play to limit the damage with George Washington tying the game on a hit by pitch.

Monmouth grabbed the lead back in the fifth after an error and a sacrifice bunt put a runner in scoring position, allowing Robbie Holmes (Bernardsville, NJ/Bernards) to drive it in and give the Blue and White a 3-2 lead. Graber added a sac fly in the eighth for some insurance, and the Colonials went 1-2-3 in the ninth as MU pitching retired the final 11 in order.

NOTES AND QUOTES
"Great way to finish the series. Steckline settled things in for us early in the game and got us to the eighth and Aldrich took over. Those guys competed extremely well. Our offense was opportunistic; the AB's were better the last two days and we were able to create scoring chances. A real solid weekend that we can build on." – Head Coach Dean Ehehalt

-Monmouth won its first series true of the season in its second opportunity.
-The Hawks win back-to-back contests for the second time this season.
-MU pitching did not allow the final 11 Colonials to reach base.
-Jalen Jenkins became the third Hawk this season with a three-hit game, and second this weekend.
-Nick Houghton made his first career start on the mound.
-Stephen Aldrich earned his first career save.
-Ryan Steckline tossed his third straight outing without allowing an earned run.

NUMBERS CRUNCH
-Monmouth outhit GW 10-9.
-Ryan Steckline earned the win with 5.1 innings of five-hit shutout ball.
-Aldrich added two perfect innings for the save.
-Raimo took the loss for GW, allowing two runs on three hits in 5.1 innings.
-The Colonials made the games only error.

UP NEXT
-Monmouth is at in-state foe Rutgers on Tuesday at 3:00 p.m.