ELON, N.C. – The Monmouth University baseball team pounded out 16 hits en route to a 9-7 win over Elon University in Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) play on Saturday.
 
The Hawks stretched their current win streak to three straight and won their fourth straight CAA series.
 
Monmouth struck in the top of the first as Simmi Whitehill's two-run double gave the Hawks an early lead.
 
Elon got one back in the bottom of the first.
 
The Hawks responded in the top of the second with a two-run home run from Jake Howlett and led 4-1.
 
Monmouth pushed its lead to 6-1 in the top of the third on RBI base hits from Brendan Buecker and RJ Mustaro. 
 
Alec Couture limited the Elon opportunities through the first five innings.
 
Elon reached Couture and tied the game in the bottom of the sixth. The Phoenix sent nine men to the plate and scored five runs on six hits.
 
Monmouth had an immediate answer in the top of the seventh. Chris Walsh led off with a walk and came around to score as Simmi Whitehill attempted to steal second and the ball went into the outfield. 
 
The Hawks plated two more and took a 9-6 lead as Nick Lovarco and Whitehill scored on a failed pickoff attempt.
 
Elon was able to scratch out a run in the bottom of the ninth but David Horvath got a strikeout to close out the 9-7 win.
 
Notes

• The Hawks stretched their current win streak to three straight contests. It is the Hawks' second win streak of three or more games this season. 
• With the win the Hawks have won their fourth straight CAA series to start the season. It is the first time since 2008 that the Hawks have won their first four conference series to start the season.
• Simmi Whitehill extended his reached base safely streak to 23 straight games with his first inning single.
• Wyatt Hunt pushed his hit streak to nine straight games with a single in the first inning.
• Jake Howlett's home run in the second inning gave the Hawks 26 long balls in 23 games this season. The Hawks hit just 26 home runs in 54 games last year.
• The Hawks had five steals in the win. Monmouth improved to 4-0 on the year when it has five or more steals in a game.
• The Hawks scored nine runs in the game. Monmouth moves to 7-1 on the year when it scores nine or more runs in a game.
• The 16 hits are the second most by the Hawks in a game this season.
• It was the second time in the last five games that Nick Lovarco has recorded four hits in a game.
• Austin Beard picked up his second straight win in relief. Beard went three innings and surrendered one run on four hits. 
• David Horvath recorded his team-leading fourth save of the season. Horvath has the most saves by a Hawk since Derek Benzinger had five in 2024.
• Sam Saucke made his return to the Monmouth lineup (first game since Mar. 13) and finished with a hit and two walks.

 
Up Next

• The Hawks and Phoenix wrap up the weekend set on Sunday, Mar. 29 at 1 p.m.