Monmouth University Athletics

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. – Aidan Bretschneider had four RBIs and Alec Couture tossed seven strong innings in game two which helped the Monmouth University baseball team split a doubleheader at Hofstra University in Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) action Friday.
 
Bretschneider's four RBIs backed a strong start from Couture and helped the Hawks earn a 5-2 win in game two. In game one, the Pride scored three times in the bottom of the fourth to break a tie and eventually claimed a 7-3 win.
 
Game One Recap:
The Pride (18-25, 12-14 CAA) jumped out to an early lead in game one with a run in the first and an additional tally in the second. 
 
Monmouth (26-20, 17-9 CAA) got one of those runs back in the third as Chris Walsh launched a solo home run to left center. 
 
The Hawks tied the game at 2-2 in the top of the fourth as Nick Lovarco delivered his team-leading 10th home run. 
 
In their half of the fourth, Hofstra scored three runs and took a 5-2 lead in the game. 
 
Monmouth got one run back in the sixth as Jimmy Bruno's two-out single scored Simmi Whitehill. That made it a 5-3 game.
 
A two-run homer in the bottom of the sixth pushed the Hofstra lead to 7-3. That turned into an eventual 7-3 win for the Pride.
 
Game Two Recap:
Game two started much the same way as game one. Hofstra scored single runs in the second and third innings and took a 2-0 advantage.
 
The Hawks broke through on the scoreboard in the top of the fourth. After singles from Brendan Buecker and Lovarco, Bretschneider ripped a double to right center that scored both runs and tied the game.
 
Monmouth went on top, 3-2 as Walsh hit his second home run of the day in the fifth.
 
Couture continued to limit the opportunities for the Pride.
 
A pair of two-out walks in the top of the eighth put runners on first and second for Bretschneider. He responded with a double down the right field line that made it a 5-2 game.
 
Hofstra had a chance in the eighth as the Pride loaded the bases with one out. Austin Beard got a strikeout and a groundout to escape the inning.
 
Beard got the Pride to go in order in the bottom of the ninth to secure the win.
 
Notes

• Nick Lovarco's game one home run gave him 10 on the season. He is the first Hawk since James Harmstead and Alex Barker in 2022 to hit at least 10 home runs in a season.
• Chris Walsh hit a home run in each game and joins Lovarco as Hawks with 10 home runs this season.
• The Hawks were hit by a pitch three times in the two games combined. Monmouth has been hit by a pitch 83 times this season, which ranks second in the CAA.
• Wyatt Hunt had two hits in game one and now leads the team with 20 multi-hit games this season.
• Aidan Bretschneider finished game two with four RBIs and now has two games this season with four or more RBIs (Towson, Hofstra).
• Lovarco stole a base in game two for the Hawks. He now has nine steals on the season while the Hawks have 99 steals as a team.
• Ryan Mealy took the game one loss after allowing seven runs over five innings. 
• Kevin Opanel tossed two scoreless innings in relief and matched his season-high with three strikeouts in game one. 
• Alec Couture picked up his team-leading fifth win of the season in game two. He tossed seven innings, which matched his season-high. Couture allowed two runs while striking out seven.
• Austin Beard picked up his second save of the season. He went the final two innings of game two and allowed just one hit. 

Up Next

• The Hawks and Pride wrap up their series on Sunday, May 10 at 12 p.m.