HAMDEN, CT – For the first time in over a year, Monmouth University Baseball (1-1, 1-1 MAAC) took the field and earned a split with Quinnipiac University (1-1, 1-1 MAAC), taking the second game 8-5 behind four runs in the final two innings. The Bobcats took the opener by a 5-0 count.
 
In Game Two, Monmouth got on the board early on a Johnny Zega (Lincroft, NJ/Middletown South) RBI single, but QU tied the game in the bottom half. The Blue and White hung three runs up in the third, with Jalen Jenkins (Waxhaw, NC/Cuthbertson/Brunswick CC) singling in a run before James Harmstead (Manasquan, NJ/Manasquan) launched his first career home run, a two-run shot to make it 4-1. Quinnipiac scored a pair in both the fourth and fifth to take the lead, but the Hawks rallied to tie the game in the eighth behind Harry Padden's (Pittsgrove, NJ/AP Schalick) run-scoring single. In the ninth, Alex Barker (Newark, DE/Caravel Academy) led off with a double and after a fielder's choice put runners in scoring position, Dennis Filipovski (Ormond Beach, FL/Seabreeze/St. Petersburg College) put MU up with a sac fly. Padden then added to the Hawk lead with a two-run triple before Regan Dombroski (Manasquan, NJ/Wall) capped four shutout relief innings in the ninth to secure the win.

The opener saw both teams trade zeroes for the first three innings before Quinnipiac's Evan Vulgamore hit a three-run home run. QU added two more in the fifth on an Eli Marrero two-run single, and ultimately took the opener 5-0.

NOTES AND QUOTES

"Very good team win in Game Two today. Our guys showed a lot of resiliency today in this one; the score went back and forth and we executed late in the game. Of course we got an outstanding relief effort from Regan. When he enters the game it always seems to change the energy and today was no different. A few good AB's early in the game from Johnny, Jalen and Harmstead's homer got us going offensively.  We hung tough and were able to play our style of ball down the stretch. Harry Padden made us go today and Filipovski had a good AB to drive in an all-important run." – Head Coach Dean Ehehalt
 
Game One
-This marked Monmouth's first game in 375 days. It also marked MU's first MAAC game in 673 days, dating back to May 17, 2019 against Rider.
-Dan Klepchick started the season opener for the third year in a row, and has now pitched on opening weekend four straight seasons.
-Dixon Black and James Harmstead made their Monmouth debuts in the contest.
-Johnny Zega collected Monmouth's first hit of the season.
 
Game Two
-James Harmstead hit Monmouth's first home run of the season. The homer was the first hit of his MU career.
-The Dombroski brothers combined to pitch all nine innings.
-Harry Padden posted his first career multi-hit game.
-Jalen Jenkins notched his fourth career multi-hit game.
-Trey Dombroski made his fifth career start.
-Regan Dombroski earned his first win since May 17, 2019 against Rider.
-Lorenzo Repack, Alex Barker, Casey Caufield and Chris Andrews made their MU debuts in the game.

NUMBERS CRUNCH

Game One
-Zega and Matt Graber had Monmouth's hits.
-Evan Vulgamore and Eli Marrero drove in all five QU runs.
-Dan Klepchick fanned seven in 4.2 innings, taking the loss.
-Evan Ferris tossed 1.1 scoreless bullpen innings.
-Garcia and Goldrick combined to toss all seven innings for Quinnipiac.
 
Game Two
-Monmouth outhit Quinnipiac 10-9.
-Trey Dombroski allowed three earned runs in five innings with three K's.
-Regan Dombroski allowed just two hits in four shutout relief innings to earn the win.
-Padden and Jenkins had multi-hit games for MU.
-Seven different Hawks recorded a hit.
-Johnny Zega was on base three separate times.
-QU used six pitchers in the contest.

UP NEXT
-The teams square off again tomorrow at noon in a doubleheader in Hamden, CT.