WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ – The Monmouth University Baseball Team (18-16) homered three times and totaled 11 hits and 12 runs in slugging its way past NJIT (16-15) Wednesday.
Jake Catalano drove in four runs and
Mason Fitzpatrick picked up his first career win.
NJIT scored single runs in each of the first three innings, but Monmouth got them all back and then some in the third.
Colin McCreary put a solo homer inside the right field foul pole, his first of the year, before
Dixon Black hit a long two-run homer to tie it. With two aboard later in the frame, Catalano placed a two-run double inside the third-base bag to put the Hawks up 5-3.
The Highlanders got even on a two-run homer in the fifth, but MU took the lead back when Catalano hit his second homer of the year, a two-run shot to make it 7-5. A solo homer and an RBI double got NJIT even yet again in the sixth before Ray Ortiz singled home a third, making it 8-7 for the visitors.
Fitzpatrick came on to get a key out to end the sixth, and MU got even in the bottom half on a wild pitch. In a tie game headed to the eighth, the first two Hawks got on ahead of
Alex Barker drilling a two-run double into the corner and giving Monmouth the lead.
Joey Ventresca followed with a two-run single of his own and MU added a fourth in the inning on an error, taking this contest 12-8.
NOTES AND QUOTES
"Definitely a nice team win today against a quality team. We made some things happen and created some big innings. Early in the game Colin got us going with his home run and we were able to cash in on some opportunities to create a few big innings.
Mason Fitzpatrick did a great job today; a huge out in the sixth to keep it a one-run game and then followed with two more quality innings. We look forward to being home this weekend in conference." – Head Coach
Dean Ehehalt
-Monmouth is now 9-0 at home.
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Colin McCreary's home run was his first since May 23, 2019 in the MAAC Tournament.
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Jake Catalano's four RBI's tied a career high.
-Black's home run was his seventh of the season, third most on the team.
-The top third of the MU order had six hits.
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Phil Stahl made his first career start at catcher, and third career start overall, his first since February 29, 2020 at San Diego.
-Monmouth is now 11-0 all-time against NJIT.
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Mason Fitzpatrick earned his first career victory.
NUMBERS CRUNCH
-Each team had 11 hits.
-Fitzpatrick threw 2.2 shutout, one-hit innings to earn the win.
-Jenkins took the loss, allowing two runs for NJIT.
-There were five combined errors in the contest.
UP NEXT
-Monmouth opens up a MAAC series against Marist at home Friday at 3:00 p.m.
