WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ – Monmouth University Baseball (13-3, 13-3 MAAC) pitching allowed three total hits in two games, and the Hawk bats exploded for 11 runs and 17 hits in the nightcap at MU split a doubleheader with Rider University (11-9, 11-9 MAAC) Wednesday. The Hawks won the second game 11-1 after dropping the opener 1-0.
Dante Ciaramella (Eatontown, NJ/Monmouth Regional) took a no-hit bid into the sixth inning and ultimately fired six innings of one-hit ball to earn his first career win in the final game of the day. The Hawks staked him to some run support early, with
Dennis Filipovski (Ormond Beach, FL/Seabreeze/St. Petersburg College) hitting his first career home run in the second, a two-run shot to make it 2-0. MU took a 3-0 lead to the fifth where the Hawks batted around, scoring seven times on five hits and a pair of Bronc errors. Filipovski and
Brady Mutz (Swarthmore, PA/Strath Haven) both singled up the middle to plate runs, and after a pair scored on an error,
Harry Padden (Pittsgrove, NJ/AP Schalick) tripled the other way to make it 10-0. The lone Rider hit and run of the game came when Scott Shaw homered in the sixth, but MU ended the game in the eighth via the MAAC's mercy rule when
Chris Andrews (Coopersburg, PA/Southern Lehigh) lined his first career hit into center field to make it 11-1.
Alex Barker (Newark, DE/Caravel Academy) was stellar in the opener, allowing a run on two hits in a complete game. The games only run came in the fourth, when Sean McGeehan tucked a solo home run inside the left field foul pole. MU loaded the bases in the first but were unable to score, and Kenny Quijano tossed six shutout frames for the visitors.
NOTES AND QUOTES
"I was encouraged at how our team bounced back in the second game today. We came out with some energy and we got plenty of production from the bottom of the order. Dante was excellent in his first career start; he has been waiting patiently for this opportunity and pitched extremely well. Filipovski got us going with the home run, we really needed a spark especially after the first game. Real happy for Brady and a four-hit game; he has been swinging the bat well lately. We were able to string together some good AB's to score five two-out runs in the fifth which gave us some much needed breathing room. In the first game, Barker was good again and we just couldn't score. Tip of the hat to their pitcher, the first inning was our best chance to score and we came up empty. Our pitchers were excellent again today. It was nice to see
Chris Andrews get his first hit as a Hawk. I am super proud of the focus our guys have had and I know we look forward to getting better moving forward." – Head Coach
Dean Ehehalt
-Monmouth pitching allowed just three hits in the two games.
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Dennis Filipovski hit his first home run as a Hawk.
-Filipovski's three RBI's matched a career high set last season at Presbyterian.
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Brady Mutz posted a career-high in the second game with four hits, the second Hawk this year with a four-hit contest (
Harry Padden at Quinnipiac, 3/20).
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Dante Ciaramella earned his first career win in his first start.
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Dixon Black notched his first career three-hit game.
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Phil Stahl came off the bench and earned his second pinch hit in as many at bats this season.
-MU's 17 hits is the most in a game this season, and most since having 17 vs. Presbyterian on February 22, 2020.
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Alex Barker is now allowing an average of one run per start.
-Monmouth and Rider split the season series, 2-2.
NUMBERS CRUNCH
-The Hawks outhit Rider in each game, and totaled 20 hits to Rider's three on the day.
-Barker struck out five in a complete game effort in the opener, allowing a run on two hits, but took the loss.
-Kenny Quijano threw six shutout innings for the Broncs to pick up his first win.
-Joe Paper allowed five runs on eight hits to suffer the second game loss for Rider.
-Ciaramella tossed six one-run innings with four K's to pick up his first W.
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Michael Dimino and
Mason Miller combined to throw a pair of shutout innings.
UP NEXT
-Monmouth heads to unbeaten Fairfield this Saturday to begin a four-game set with the Stags.
