WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. – Seven strong innings from Ryan Mealy helped power the Monmouth University baseball team to an 8-2 win over Towson University in Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) play on Friday. 
 
The Hawks recorded their 12th win in CAA play, their most since joining the conference.
 
After a scoreless top of the first, the Hawks went to work in the bottom half of the frame. Sam Saucke led off with a double and moved to third on a Wyatt Hunt base knock. Saucke used a nice slide to get around the tag on Chris Walsh's sacrifice bunt. Hunt came home in the inning on Nick Lovarco's ground out. 
 
The Hawks doubled their lead in the second inning. Sacuke's double scored a pair and made it a 4-0 Monmouth advantage. 
 
Mealy did a good job of limiting the Towson opportunities as he held the Tigers to a single base runner in the third through sixth innings.
 
The Tigers got on the board with a leadoff home run in the seventh inning. However, the Hawks got out trouble as Brendan Buecker caught a pop up and doubled a runner off second.
 
Monmouth pushed its lead to 6-1 in the bottom of the seventh as Buecker's base knock and a Towson error allowed Lovarco and Simmi Whitehill to score.
 
A two-run single from Whitehill in the eighth extended the Hawks advantage to 8-1. 
 
Towson got a solo home run for its second run in the ninth, but Kevin Opanel closed out the inning to secure the victory.
 
Notes

• The Hawks have now won six straight games against Towson. 
• Monmouth registered its 12th CAA win of the season. It is Monmouth's most conference wins since joined the CAA for 2023 season. It is Monmouth's most conference wins overall since the 2022 team won 12 games in the MAAC.
• The Hawks rapped out 13 hits in the game. The Hawks are 5-1 this year when they record 13 or more hits in a game.
• Simmi Whitehill has now reached base in all 30 games this season after his single in the seventh.
• Chris Walsh had a two-hit day and extended his reached base safely streak to 24 straight games. 
• Sam Saucke scored a pair of runs in the game. The Hawks move to 7-2 when Saucke scores multiple runs in the game. 
• Four Hawks stole a base in the game. Among the Hawks to swipe a bag was Walsh who stole his team-leading 17th of the season. 
• Brendan Buecker has hit by a pitch. He is one of three Hawks to be hit by a pitch at least 10 times this season.
• Ryan Mealy pitched seven dominate innings to record his third win of the season. Mealy gave up just one run while striking out five with no walks.
• Kevin Opanel went the final two innings and allowed just one run and one hit.

Up Next

• After four straight on the road, the Hawks return home on Friday, Apr. 10 to open up a three-game set with Towson at 3 p.m.