CARY, NC – Behind six no-hit innings from Trey Dombroski and a 10-run outburst from the offense, Monmouth University Baseball (1-0) knocked off Big Ten-member Penn State University (0-1) in the 2022 season opener Friday, 10-1. Alex Barker and Chris Andrews each had three hits, while Dixon Black homered in the victory. Monmouth pitching did not allow a hit until the eighth inning.
 
MU got on the board first in the second, when Brady Mutz worked out a bases loaded walk ahead of Jake Catalano reaching on a fielder's choice on a throw home that hit him running to first. Black added to the lead in the third with a two-strike opposite field home run to make it 3-0.
 
Dombroski faced the minimum in his six innings, allowing just a hit by pitch in the fourth that was erased by an inning-ending double play. He struck out seven on 59 pitches, and fanned two of the last three Nittany Lions he faced while not allowing a hit in his outing.
 
The Hawks broke it open in the seventh, with Andrews pulling an RBI single and Catalano lifting a sac fly to make it 5-0. Colin McCreary followed that with a two-run single to right to make it 7-0. After Stephen Aldrich delivered a 1-2-3 seventh, Andrews singled in another run and Catalano hit another sac fly in the eighth to make it 9-0. MU tacked on a run in the ninth, and Penn State scored one in the home ninth to set the final at 10-1 Monmouth.

NOTES AND QUOTES

"Great team win today. A very nice way to start our season. Trey was in control from the start, we played good defense when we had to and created a lot of scoring opportunities. A few good two-strike at-bats made a difference early and that enabled us to take a lead and then pad and protect it. Offensively, we had contributions from many guys; Chris Andrews had 3 hits and 3 RBI's, while Catalano was productive with a few good situational at bats. Trey and Aldrich pieced together a solid game and pounded the strike zone. We look forward to getting back out tomorrow." – Head Coach Dean Ehehalt
 
-The win is Monmouth's fourth all-time against Penn State.
-Trey Dombroski posted the third scoreless outing of his career and did not allow a hit.
-Monmouth first allowed a hit as a team in the eighth inning.
-MU won on opening day for the second time in three seasons.
-Casey Caufield and Chris Andrews made their first career starts.
-Alex Barker posted the first three-hit game of his career.
-Chris Andrews posted his first career three-hit and three-RBI contest.
-Stephen Aldrich earned his second career save and first since March 8, 2020 at George Washington.
-The bottom four in the MU order drove in eight runs.
-Dixon Black hit MU's first home run of the season.
 
NUMBERS CRUNCH
-Trey Dombroski fired six no-hit innings, allowing no walks and one hit by pitch with seven strikeouts.
-Stephen Aldrich picked up the save with three strong innings, not allowing an earned run with four K's.
-MU outhit Penn State 10-3.
 
UP NEXT
-Monmouth takes on Northeastern in a doubleheader tomorrow, with the first game set for 1:00 p.m.