WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ – Alex Barker (Newark, DE/Caravel Academy) launched a walk-off grand slam in the ninth inning to win the MAAC quarterfinal series for Monmouth University Baseball (24-11) over Siena College (15-24) on Saturday, winning the game 6-4 and the series 2-1.
 
Down two entering the ninth, Jalen Jenkins (Waxhaw, NC/Cuthbertson/Brunswick CC) slashed a double inside the third base bag before Johnny Zega (Lincroft, NJ/Middletown South) was hit in the arm by a pitch. James Harmstead (Manasquan, NJ/Manasquan) singled through the left side, setting up Barker to hammer a 2-0 offering over the right field wall and send Monmouth to the MAAC Championship round next week at Fairfield.
 
Siena scored four runs in the second, with Evan St. Claire plating a pair with a double. Danny Long (Sellersville, PA/Pennridge) stepped up in relief for the Blue and White, firing 5.2 one-hit shutout innings with three K's to keep MU in it before the Hawks offense got rolling. Matt Graber (Newton, MA/Dexter) drew a 3-2 bases loaded walk in the sixth to get MU on the board, and Harmstead ripped a double to the wall in left in the seventh to score Zega and get the Hawks within a pair ahead of Barker's heroics.
 
NOTES AND QUOTES

"What a game. Our guys battled through this game, a game that had so many competitive moments. Fortunately, we kept pushing forward and showed that gritty mentality. Barker, what can you say, he has been really good in those situations this year. He got a good pitch this time and didn't miss it. Those guys in front of him that set the table in the ninth did what we needed; Jalen leading off, Johnny with a solid at-bat and Harmstead kept it moving to get to Barker. Danny Long was unbelievable out of the pen, and down 4-0 in the fourth we needed that. He competed like we knew he would and kept the game in check until we could get going offensively. The single runs we were able to scratch across in the sixth and seventh helped us mentally to be back in the game and be within striking distance. A very solid team win against a Siena team that came to play." – Head Coach Dean Ehehalt
 
"I knew he was going to try to come back with a slider, that's what he did in my last at bat so I just sat on the fastball and waited for the slider. We were battling all day, these guys are unbelievable to be around. As soon as I hit it, I knew it was gone. Everything we did in the fall, up to the spring is finally starting to pay off." – Alex Barker
 
-Monmouth advances to next weekend's four-team championship round, winning the three-game series over Siena, 2-1.
-Barker's grand slam was MU's second of the season (Jake Catalano vs. Marist).
-The Hawks won via walk-off for the second time this year (Jalen Jenkins vs. Canisius).
-The home run was Barker's team leading eighth.
-Barker's eight home runs is the most since Clay Koniencki hit nine in 2019.
-The Hawks conclude the home portion of the schedule 18-5.
-Jalen Jenkins posted his second straight three-hit game and fifth in the last eight contests.
-Danny Long picked up his third career win, all coming this season.
-Long's 5.2 innings is a career high.
 
NUMBERS CRUNCH
-MU outhit Siena 9-6.
-Long fired 5.2 one-hit shutout innings to earn the win.
-Mike McCully took the loss for Siena, allowing the game-winning runs.
-Bryce Porter had two hits for the Saints.
 
UP NEXT
-Monmouth will take on #3 Rider on Wednesday at 3:00 p.m. at Fairfield University.