NEWARK, DE – Monmouth University Baseball (8-8) posted three innings with multiple runs and did not give up a run after the first inning in topping the University of Delaware (7-8) Friday afternoon in Newark, DE 10-4.
Stephen Aldrich threw four two-hit shutout innings out of the bullpen, while
James Harmstead went 4-for-4 and
Jake Catalano drove in three runs to pace the offense.
Monmouth doubled twice and had three hits in the opening inning, the final two from Harmstead and
Joey Ventresca to stake MU to a 2-0 lead. A five-hit bottom half netted four runs for the Blue Hens to go up 4-2, but they wouldn't score again as
Trey Dombroski set down nine of the next 10.
The Hawks jumped in front with a three-run sixth, with Harmstead setting the table with a double before an error plated two. Catalano's RBI single later in the frame made it 5-4 Monmouth. Another Harmstead double in the seventh set up a bases loaded walk from
Chris Andrews and a
Brady Mutz sac fly to extend the lead. Catalano then hit a two-run double and
Casey Caufield added an RBI hit to make it 10-4. Aldrich scattered just two hits across his outing and Monmouth took the opening game of the series by the 10-4 count.
NOTES AND QUOTES
"Nice team win today. After the first inning it turned into a solid team effort. We definitely needed to show some toughness early in the game and figured out a way to get the lead back in the middle innings. Steve Aldrich was solid out of the pen and provided us a much needed spark. Our lineup showed a lot of grit when we needed. Harmstead and Catalano had big days with the bats.It was nice to see our guys respond in a tough fashion early in the game. They stayed together and played hard." – Head Coach
Dean Ehehalt
-Harmstead's three doubles are the most by a Hawk in a game since February 25, 2018 when Pete Papcun and Kyle Norman each had three doubles against UMBC.
-This marked the second four-hit game of Harmstead's career.
-Harmstead has both of MU's four-hit games this season.
-This was
Jake Catalano's second career three-hit game, both this season, and the second time he's driven in three runs in a game (May 1, 2021 vs. Marist – 4 RBI via grand slam).
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Stephen Aldrich posted a season high with four innings pitched and collected his first win since May 5, 2019 at Canisius.
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Casey Caufield extended his hitting streak to 12 games.
-Monmouth is now 4-4 all-time against Delaware.
-MU is now 4-1 on Friday's this season.
NUMBERS CRUNCH
-Monmouth outhit Delaware 13-9.
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Stephen Aldrich earned the win with four two-hit innings, allowing no runs with two K's.
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Dixon Black made his second appearance on the mound, tossing a scoreless ninth.
UP NEXT
-Monmouth and Delaware are back in action for the second game of the series tomorrow at 1:00 p.m.
