This past weekend, the Hawks Knights, their first NEC competition this season, in a four game series.
Pitching on a six day rest, righty to open the series against FDU. In Light’s last appearance, he allowed five runs and seven hits in only five innings pitched and recorded the loss against a difficult Troy line up. Fortunately for the Hawks, Light’s game against the Knights provided a much different result. Light pitched all nine innings with great control, keeping his pitch count at 115 with 81 of those deliveries being strikes. He also struck out a career high of 13 batters. When asked what had changed Light’s game, Head Coach Dean Ehehalt responded, “Troy is a lot better than the team we played really good pre-conference schedule so that has a lot to do with it. Pat’s very good… it is not an uncommon thing to see him do that again [in our conference].”
With support from his team, Light was able to keep the Knights off the base path by allowing a mere six hits. Though Light had pitched a the scoreboard in the first off a RBI double to right field. Thankfully, Monmouth quickly retaliated and scored three runs in the bottom half of the first inning making the game 3-1, which would also be the final score.
Highlights from Friday’s game included senior right fielder Jamie Rosenkranz who went 3-for-3 against FDU’s pitching staff and also contributed a run. Junior third Hawks as well by batting 2-for-4 with two RBI’s. Designated hitter, senior Chris Perret, provided the third RBI and went 1-for-3.
The Hawks continued their series on Saturday. Getting the nod for the southpaw Dan Smith. Pitching six complete innings, Smith gave up three hits, one walk, struck three batters out, and allowed no earned runs. Smith was replaced by fresh-[Smith] had a high pitch count. We wanted to give him some rest and give another kid an inning,” Coach Ehehait states.
The Hawks won big in the first game of the doubleheader with a fi-Josh Boyd, Rosenkranz and Avella were key providers for the Hawks in Both centerfielder Josh Boyd and Rosenkranz went 3-for-4 with two RBI’s each. Avella went 1-for-2 with three RBI’s.
On the mound for the second game of the double header was southpaw sophomore Andrew McGee. McGee went the distance for his first complete game of his college career allowing only six hits, one walk and McGee earned his second win of the season. Behind McGee, the Hawks won the second game of the doubleheader with a final score of 3-1. Main contributions came off the bat of senior first baseman Owen Stewart. Going 2-for-3, Stewart knocked in a run and also scored a run.
By Saturday night, the Hawks won the series but still had one more game left to play. Closing the series was left-handed sophomore Stephen Frey. Frey got lit up allow-hits while working one and a third of an inning. As relief in the second inning was needed, senior Stephen Prosapio received the call from the pen. Prosapio only gave up one run Coming in for the third inning was freshman Adam Yunginger, who let in his one inning appearance. Coach Ehehalt replaced the freshmen with junior Harm Neil, who pitched the most out of the pen by going for a whole three innings allowing one run and one hit. Replacing Neil was and a third, Loiodice gave up six hits and three runs but did strike out two batters. Freshman Charlie Battis came in to finish the game by up two hits.
Thankfully for the Hawks, their batting lineup did not falter. Al-the second and it seemed like they somehow came back and evened up the game. Avella, Stewart and Mar-inning, each getting on with a sin-the ball and send in Avella while Jon Guida’s ground-out brought Stewart home. Courtesy of his good base running, Martin reached home plate on a wild pitch. By the end of the second inning, the Hawks had scored three runs. Leading off the third was Boyd who got hit by a base runner of the inning. Rosenkranz doubled scoring Boyd from -art moved Rosenkranz to third with a single leaving runners on the corners for Martin. Martin connected for a single bringing home Rosenkranz making it a one run game. and Martin with a double making the game an even 7-7.
Highlights of the game included Martin’s 4-for-4 stint along with scoring two runs and bringing in two runs for the Hawks. Perret proved himself highly valuable at Sunday’s game going 3-for-4 and having three RBI’s. Stewart also had an impressive line going 3-for-5 with two hits.
While the Monmouth’s batting proved victorious, a team cannot win without pitching, and unfortunately, there was not enough successful pitching out of the pen during Sunday’s game. The Hawks went on to suffer a 12-8 loss against favor.
This past weekend has brought the Hawks record to 10-7 (3-1 NEC). Monmouth’s next game will be at 3:00 pm.
PHOTO COURTESY of MU Photography
