FINAL SCORE
Monmouth 2 (21-24, 8-11 CAA)
UNCW 0 (24-21, 11-8 CAA)
 
WILMINGTON, NC – Jay Bant cracked a two-out two-run home run in the eighth inning to provide all the offense as the Monmouth University baseball team picked up a 2-0 win at UNCW in Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) action on Friday night. 
 
Brendan Kenneally and Tommy Kent combined to allow four hits as the Hawks logged their third shutout of the season and snapped a four-game losing streak in the process.
 
Kenneally, who had his first start of the season, was in control early allowing just two baserunners through the first three innings.
 
UNCW loaded the bases in the fourth with one out, but Kent came in from the bullpen and got a flyout double play to get out of trouble.
 
The Hawks finally broke through on the scoreboard in the eighth. Casey Caufield laced a double to right with two outs. Bant then drove the third pitch he saw over the fence in left center for a 2-0 advantage. 
 
UNCW had a runner on second in the eighth inning but Kent got a fly out to strand him. 
 
Kent allowed a walk in the ninth but that was all UNCW could manage as Monmouth claimed the 2-0 win.

NOTES 
- The Hawks improve to 2-4 all-time against UNCW and have won back-to-back games over the Seahawks. 
- Monmouth snapped a four-game losing streak with the win. 
- The shutout was the third of the season for the Hawks (NC A&T, Elon, UNCW).
- Chris Andrews had three base hits in the game and now needs just three more hits to reach 100 for his career.
- Andrews also had a stolen base and improved the Hawks' total to 94 on the season. The Hawks are just six steals away from tying the school record for steals in a season (100-2009).

NUMBERS CRUNCH
- Jay Bant's home run was his team-leading sixth of the season. 
- Bant's home run gave him 48 RBIs on the season. Bant has the most RBIs by a Hawk since James Harmstead had 48 in 2022.
- Casey Caufield moved into a tie for second on the team with 13 doubles on the season.
- Tommy Kent's six strikeouts were one shy of his season-high (seven versus Towson).
- Brendan Kenneally's start was his first of the season. He went 3.1 and struck out two.
- Kent earned the win after tossing 5.2 of two-hit shutout ball and striking out six.
- Zane Taylor took the loss for UNCW as he went 7.2 innings and gave up two runs on seven hits with four strikeouts.

NEXT UP
The Hawks and UNCW will wrap up their series on Saturday, May 3 when they play a doubleheader starting at 3 p.m.