HAMDEN, CT – Monmouth University Baseball (3-1, 3-1 MAAC) scored in their final at-bat to take Game One and never trailed in Game Two in sweeping MAAC preseason favorite Quinnipiac University (1-3, 1-3 MAAC) Sunday afternoon by counts of 5-3 and 11-7. The Hawks open up 3-1 in MAAC play for the first time since 2017.

Monmouth got strong pitching in the first game from Alex Barker (Newark, DE/Caravel Academy), who fired six effective innings in his first start as a Hawk. The Blue and White took the lead in the second behind Jake Catalano's (Southampton, NJ/St. Augustine Prep/RCGC) RBI single, but QU plated a pair in the third to take a 2-1 lead. After the teams traded runs in the fourth, Monmouth headed to its final at bat trailing. For the second straight game, MU took the lead in its final turn on offense, doing so after Joey Ventresca (Little Egg Harbor, NJ/Pinelands Regional) came off the bench and singled for his first collegiate hit. A walk, a sac bunt and an intentional free pass loaded the bases before pinch runner Lorenzo Repack (Columbus, NJ/Northern Burlington) scored on a wild pitch to tie the game. James Harmstead (Manasquan, NJ/Manasquan) followed that with a two-run sacrifice fly to put MU up, and Ryan Steckline (Newark, DE/Appoquinimink) struck out the side in order to lock down the win.

Barker continued his strong day in the first inning of the final game, launching a three-run homer to stake first-time starter Danny Long (Sellersville, PA/Pennridge) to a 3-0 lead. MU scratched one across in the third before Harry Padden (Pittsgrove, NJ/AP Schalick) double preceded a Jalen Jenkins (Waxhaw, NC/Cuthbertson/Brunswick CC) triple in the fourth, part of a two-run inning that made it 6-0 Hawks. Quinnipiac put up four in the fourth to trim the lead to 6-4, but MU got 3.1 shutout relief innings from Dante Ciaramella (Eatontown, NJ/Monmouth Regional) to keep the lead at two. Monmouth added on in the eighth, scoring on a bases loaded walk and hit by pitch as well as an error to extend the lead back to 10-4. The Bobcats scored three runs across the final two innings, but Steckline again closed the door, securing the Hawks sweep on the day and series win.

NOTES AND QUOTES

"Great day for us. We battled all day and were able to grind out two wins. It was a total team effort, we had outstanding contributions from many and our energy was excellent. We got very good pitching, timely hitting and made plays when we needed. Barker had a big day for us with his performance in Game One and then he staked us to a 3-0 lead in Game Two. Steckline came in tight spots in both games and was really solid and competed at a very high level. The production was balanced, as we executed offensively in both games. A lot of guys playing in their first career MAAC series; they handled it well. Very proud of our effort today." – Head Coach Dean Ehehalt

Game One
-The Hawks took the lead in the final AB for the second game in a row.
-Jalen Jenkins posted his second straight multi-hit game.
-Johnny Zega posted his 24^th career multi-hit contest and first this season.
-Alex Barker made his first start on the mound as a Hawk and earned the win.
-Jaxon Dalena made his collegiate debut.
-Joey Ventresca picked up a hit in his first collegiate at bat to ignite the seventh-inning rally.
-Ryan Steckline picked up his seventh career save with a three K ninth.
-James Harmstead drove in a pair of runs for the second game in a row.
 
Game Two
-The Hawks started 3-1 in the MAAC for the first time since a 4-0 opening in 2017.
-Danny Long started his first career game on the mound. It marked his sixth career pitching appearance, and first since April 11, 2018 against Columbia.
-Long earned his first win as a pitcher.
-Alex Barker hit his first home run as a Hawk and drove in his first runs, finishing with four RBI's. It marked MU's second long ball of the season.
-Ryan Steckline earned his eighth career save and second of the day.
-Jalen Jenkins collected multiple hits for the third game in a row.
-Dante Ciaramella threw his second career scoreless outing, with the 3.1 innings his longest career stint.
-Harry Padden had a hit in all three of the games he played in this weekend.
-Ryan Steckline's seven strikeouts is a career high.

NUMBERS CRUNCH

Game One
-MU outhit QU 9-7.
-Alex Barker tossed six innings, striking out four and walking none while allowing two earned runs to pick up the win.
-Romano took the loss for QU, allowing three runs in the seventh.
-Seven different Hawks had a hit.

Game Two
-Monmouth's 11 runs is a season high.
-Danny Long earned the win with three effective innings, allowing two earned runs.
-Ryan Steckline earned the save with 2.2 innings and seven K's.
-Dante Ciaramella fired 3.1 shutout innings in relief.
-Hagen took the loss for Quinnipiac, allowing six runs in 3.2 innings.

UP NEXT
-Monmouth opens its home schedule next weekend, hosting Manhattan beginning at noon on Saturday with a doubleheader.