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Hawks Baseball Springs into Action Winning 3-of-4

On Saturday, Mar. 20, the Monmouth University baseball team earned a split against Quinnipiac University after a win in the second game with a score of 8-5. Quinnipiac took game one with a score of 5-0.

Monmouth scored very early in game two with a RBI single hit by fifth year student, Johnny Zega. The Bobcats soon retaliated by tying the game in the bottom half. The Hawks then scored three runs in the third with a single turned run in from senior outfielder, Jalen Jenkins. He was then followed by sophomore infielder and rookie of the week, James Harmstead, who slammed his first career home run which was a two-run homer, making the score 4-1.

Quinnipiac went on to score pairs in the fourth and fifth innings, taking the lead until Monmouth tied the game in the eighth after a run-scoring single hit by Padden. After getting into the ninth inning, sophomore left-handed pitcher, Alex Barker, led off with a double and was put in scoring position after senior infielder, Dennis Filipovski, increased the lead with a sac fly.

Hawks Baseball 2Padden then hit a two-run triple in the ninth prior to fifth year right handed pitcher, Regan Dombroski, pitching four shutout relief innings to secure the win.

On Sunday, Mar. 21 in Hamden, Connecticut, the Monmouth University Baseball team dominated in their doubleheader against Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) preseason favorite, Quinnipiac University.

The Hawks were able to secure their first win of the day thanks to their stellar pitching. Barker, threw six major innings and it just so happened to be his first start for Monmouth. 

The Hawks took the lead in the second inning following senior outfielder Jake Catalano’s RBI single. Quinnipiac (1-3, 1-3 MAAC) soon stole the lead making the score 2-1.

The game went back and forth in the fourth inning. After trailing, the Hawks scored in their final at-bat ending the game with a win by a 5-3 score.

Game two came around and once again, Monmouth took the lead during their last offensive chance. Sophomore right-handed pitcher and infielder, Joey Ventresca, notched a base hit for his first collegiate hit.

Next up on Monmouth’s menu was a walk, a sac bunt, and an intentional free pass loading the bases. Next, the Hawks tied the game thanks to pinch runner, freshman outfielder Lorenzo Repack, who scored on a wild pitch.

Following Repack’s scoring was a two-run sacrifice fly by Harmstead. Senior left-handed pitcher, Ryan Steckline, then struck out the side for the win.

Barker continued his wonderful performance into the first inning of the second game after slamming a three-run homerun. Sophomore infielder and outfielder, Harry Padden, scored in the third followed by Jenkins smacking a triple in the fourth, a part of a two-run inning making the score 6-0.

Quinnipiac then put up four in the fourth creeping up on Monmouth’s lead, making the score 6-4. The Hawks came right back with sophomore right-handed pitcher, Dante Ciaramella, pitched 3.1 shutout relief innings, sustaining the lead at two.

Monmouth then scored on a bases loaded walk and hit by pitch in the eighth in addition to an error, extending the lead to 10-4. Quinnipiac scored three runs in the final two innings but were ultimately held off when Steckline’s pitching ended the game on a successful note with a series win.

For the first time since 2017, the Hawks opened up 3-1 in the MAAC and opens its home schedule with a doubleheader against Manhattan next Saturday at 1:00.

PHOTOS COURTESY of Monmouth Athletics