BUFFALO, NY – James Harmstead broke the program's single-season home run record and Rob Hensey threw eight dominant innings as Monmouth University Baseball (24-23, 12-8 MAAC) secured a spot in the 2022 MAAC Tournament with a 5-4 victory over Canisius College (23-23, 13-9 MAAC) Wednesday afternoon in Buffalo.
 
Monmouth got a jumpstart from Jake Catalano in the third when he launched his third home run of the season to give Hensey a 1-0 lead. Hensey allowed baserunners in each of the first four innings but kept them off the board before two K's in a 1-2-3 fifth. Harmstead led off the sixth with his 18^th home run of the season, breaking the program's single-season record set in 2009 to make it 2-0 and Hensey struck out the side in the bottom half around a one-out triple to preserve the lead.
 
MU tacked on in the seventh on Dixon Black's RBI single, and after Canisius got a solo home run from Gibson Krzeminski, Monmouth got two in the eighth. Joey Ventresca led off with a ground-rule double, his third of the day, and came in on a Catalano sac fly before Colin McCreary notched his second hit on the infield to make it 5-1. Canisius scored three in the ninth but Dan Klepchick got the final two outs, including a strikeout to end it and lock down the 5-4 win.
 
NOTES AND QUOTES
 
"Solid team win today. Rob was outstanding; a little hiccup in the first inning, then a big double play ball. The guys did a great job competing today and also had great energy. We were able to manufacture some runs late after James hit the homer. Some good AB's helped us create some opportunities late; Cat, James, Colin and Dixon provided the RBI's in big spots. Hensey showed up in a big game today; he pounded the strike zone and made some big pitches when he needed. Congratulations to Jimmy and Trey on their individual records." – Head Coach Dean Ehehalt 
 
-Monmouth clinches a spot in the 2022 MAAC Tournament.
-James Harmstead lifted his 18^th home run of the season, topping Paul Bottigliero's program record of 17 set in 2009.
-Rob Hensey posted his fourth double-digit strikeout game of the season and ninth by an MU pitcher this year.
-Hensey threw eight innings for the second time this season and the third time by an MU pitcher this season.
-Colin McCreary notched his fourth multi-hit game of the season.
-Joey Ventresca added his fourth three-hit game this year.

NUMBERS CRUNCH
-Rob Hensey tossed eight innings to earn the win, allowing a run on five hits with a walk and 11 strikeouts.
-Andrew Duffy took the loss, allowing two runs in six innings.
-Monmouth outhit Canisius 10-9.

UP NEXT
-Monmouth and Canisius play the middle game of the series tomorrow at noon in Buffalo.