WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ – Monmouth University Baseball (18-18, 7-4 MAAC) dropped the middle game of a weekend MAAC series Saturday to Marist College (20-14, 9-5) 8-3.
 
A pair of errors led to two Marist runs in the second, but James Harmstead homered the other way in the bottom half to cut the lead in half at 2-1. Marist loaded the bases in the fourth and scored on a sac fly before Robbie Armitage hit a ground-rule double to score two more and make it 5-1. Marist added another on a Gavin Noriega RBI single to make it 6-1.
 
Johnny Decker's leadoff home run in the fifth made it 7-1 Marist, and MU loaded the bases in the fifth but couldn't score. Nick Cantone came on for Marist and recorded a four-inning save to preserve the lead. Casey Caufield hit his first career home run in the ninth.
 
NOTES AND QUOTES
 
"We will have to answer the bell and bounce back tomorrow.  Had some opportunities in the middle of the game to scratch and claw but we were unable to do so. I know the guys were happy for Casey with his first homer." – Head Coach Dean Ehehalt
 
-Casey Caufield's ninth-inning homer was the first of his career.
-James Harmstead's home run was his league-leading 12^th this season.
-Nick Campana posted his first multi-hit game of the season.
-Casey Caufield's reached base streak climbed to 32 games.

NUMBERS CRUNCH
-Dan Klepchick took his fourth loss of the season, throwing 3.2 innings.
-Nick Cantone earned a four-inning save for Marist, while Erubiel Candelario picked up his sixth win.
-Alex Barker threw 4.1 innings in relief, not allowing an earned run.
 
UP NEXT
-Monmouth and Marist wrap up the three-game series tomorrow at 1:00 p.m. in West Long Branch. The game will air on ESPN3.