FINAL SCORE
Monmouth 7 (14-24)
Lafayette 6 (14-32)
 
EASTON, Pa. – The Monmouth University baseball team scored four runs in the top of the eighth to secure a 7-6 comeback win at Lafayette College on Wednesday afternoon. The Hawks stretched their win streak to three straight games with the victory.
 
Lafayette struck first in the contest with a pair of runs in the bottom of the first. Michael Zarillo had an RBI triple and scored on a groundout for a 2-0 advantage. 
 
The Hawks broke through in the top of the third. Monmouth loaded the bases on a hit by a pitch, a single and a walk with no outs. After Lafayette got the first out, Austin Denlinger drew a bases loaded walk to force in a run. Phil Stahl lifted a sac fly to left to plate the second run. 
 
Monmouth took a 3-2 lead in the top of the fourth as Harry Padden led off with a long home run to left field. 
 
Lafayette went back on top, 6-3 after plating four runs on four hits in the bottom of the sixth. The big blow of the inning came from Ryan Grace, who had a pinch-hit three run triple.
 
Monmouth began its comeback in the top of the eighth as the first two runners reached via singles. A wild pitch scored Denlinger before Padden had an RBI single to score Matt Scrivanic. After Lafayette got the second out of the inning, Chris Andrews had a pinch-hit single to put runners on first and third. A double steal allowed Padden to score and tied the game. Brendan Buecker had an RBI single which allowed Andrews to score the go-ahead run. 
 
Dante Ciaramella entered the game in the bottom of the eighth and allowed one runner in the eighth and one in the ninth but held off Lafayette for the win. 
 
NOTES
- It was the first meeting since 2019 between the Hawks and Leopards. Monmouth moves to 22-11 all-time against Lafayette.  
- Dante Ciaramella had three strikeouts, including the 100th of his career to close out the game.
- Harry Padden moved into a tie for the team lead with his fifth home run of the season in the fourth inning. 
- Austin Denlinger has a hit and a run scored in three straight games for the Hawks. 
- Phil Stahl has hit in six straight games for the Hawks. 
- Padden stole a pair of bases in the game and became the first Hawk with at least 12 steals in a season since current assistant coach Kyle Norman (16) in 2019. 

NUMBERS CRUNCH
- Lafayette finished with a 12-9 advantage in hits in the game. 
- JD Greeley earned the win with a scoreless seventh inning. 
- Dante Ciaramella picked up the save with two scoreless innings and three strikeouts. He becomes the third Hawk to record a save this season (Derek Benzinger-4, Colin Ruddy-1).
- John Milewski took the loss for Lafayette after giving up four runs on four hits in 0.2 innings of work. 
 
NEXT UP
Monmouth returns to Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) play on Friday when it travels to Delaware to open a three-game set.