TOWSON, Md. – Behind three home runs and a strong performance out of the bullpen from
Kevin Opanel, the Monmouth University baseball team opened Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) action with a 12-5 win at Towson University.
Â
The Hawks wasted little time in getting on the board in this one. Two of the first three batters reached before
Simmi Whitehill ripped a three-run home run to right field.
Jake Howlett followed with a two-run blast to right and Monmouth led 5-0 before Towson came to bat.Â
Â
The Tigers reached Monmouth starter
Ryan Mealy for three runs in the bottom of the first and cut the deficit to two, 5-3.
Â
Both starters settled in after that and the score remained 5-3 through four.
Â
Monmouth broke things open in the fifth as the Hawks sent 11 men to the plate and scored six runs on eight hits. The big blows in the inning came from
Brendan Buecker, who hit his first career home run, and
Chris Walsh, who had a two-run single. Monmouth led 11-3 going to the bottom of the fifth.
Â
Towson made it an 11-5 game with two runs in the bottom of the fifth.Â
Â
Opanel came out of the bullpen to start the sixth and limited the Tigers to just three hits over the final four innings.Â
Â
An RBI single from Walsh in the eighth made the final score, 12-5.
Â
Notes
- The Hawks have won back-to-back games for the first time this season.
- The Hawks move to 2-2 in CAA openers under head coach Dean Ehehalt.
- Monmouth recorded three home runs in a game for the second straight contest.Â
- The Hawks had nine steals in the game as six players stole at least one base. Sam Saucke, Simmi Whitehill and Chris Walsh each stole two.
- Simmi Whitehill's home run was his second in as many games.Â
- Jake Howlett's home run was his first of the season and second of his career.Â
- Brendan Buecker's home run was his first of his career.Â
- Buecker has reached base safely in all 10 games this season.Â
- Sam Saucke scored three times. It was his fourth multi-run scored game of the season.
- Colin Richter has scored in six straight games after crossing the plate in the fifth.
- Ryan Mealy picked up the win after going the first five innings. He has struck out at least four batters in three of his first four starts.Â
- Kevin Opanel's save was the first of his Monmouth career. Â
Up Next
- The Hawks and Tigers continue their three-game set on Saturday, Mar. 7 at 2 p.m.