Senior Tommy Kent struck out 10 through six innings on Sunday afternoon and sophomore Robert Kelly hit a grand slam to get the Hawks their second win of the season after getting swept in their Saturday double header against the UMBC Retrievers.
The weekend series opened at 2 p.m. on Saturday in Baltimore with game one of a double header; this one just going to seven innings. Sophomore righty Ryan Mealy had the start for the Hawks in game one. The New York native gave Monmouth a strong five innings, giving up just two runs.
After a 1-2-3 inning from UMBC’s senior lefty Eddie Sargent, the Hawks started the scoring in the second with Kelly bringing in junior right fielder RJ Mustaro. They tagged on two more in the third with hard hitting from a pair of junior infielders. Second baseman Wyatt Hunt doubled to left, scoring sophomore center fielder Colin Richter. Hunt proceeded to score when first baseman Chris Walsh doubled to right.
The Hawks were only able to keep their three-run lead until the fourth inning, where the UMBC’s senior left fielder Ehi Okojie and junior designated hitter Danny Wyatt both homered off Mealy. The score remained 3-2 in Monmouth’s favor, until the bottom of the seventh.
Fifth year righty Kevin Opanel was in his second inning of relief work when two Retrievers reached base; ultimately getting charged with the loss. Redshirt junior infielder Luke Buscaglia pinch ran for senior catcher Derek Paris following him getting hit by a pitch. Freshman outfielder Jacob Bagania pinch ran for junior infielder Brooks Henderson following his single to left. Junior shortstop Kyle Eddington reached first on a fielding error from Monmouth’s senior third baseman Simmi Whitehill when he attempted a sacrifice bunt. Buscaglia scored on the attempt. However, Bagania was tagged out at home on a fielder’s choice, also allowing Eddington to reach second.
Eddington advanced to third on a wild pitch from Opanel. After junior centerfielder Jesiah Carpenter lined out to second, Eddington scored the walk-off run on another wild pitch from Opanel. The Hawks did get the highlight of Richter’s performance on the base path, earning himself three stolen bases.
Game two, which started just before 5 p.m., ended in similar fashion to game one with another blown lead for the Hawks, this time playing a full nine innings. It was graduate righty Alec Couture that got the start on the bump for the Hawks. Junior righty Zach Robinson started for the Retrievers.
The scoring started in the second inning again for Monmouth when Mustaro grounded out to first, sending home junior catcher Brendan Buecker. The Hawks added three more runs in the second, including an RBI from a Hunt double to center; allowing freshman shortstop Sam Saucke to score his eighth run of the season.
After adding another in the third, Monmouth put themselves up 9-0 in the top of the fourth. A two-run double from senior left fielder Nick Lovarco was the big hit of the inning. It gave the Hawks their last runs of the day and forced an end to Robinson’s outing with one swing.
UMBC slowly chipped away at the Hawks lead, starting with a two-run single in the fourth from sophomore third baseman Anthony Mascuilli. They trailed by just four heading into the sixth when senior righty Austin Beard came in for Couture.
The eighth inning was where the Retrievers both tied and pulled ahead, having their own five run inning. Wyatt hit a two-run homer to center, pulling UMBC within two. After a single to left, sophomore right fielder Danny Orr scored on a Paris double. Freshman righty Drew Yagodzinskie came in to relieve Beard. Buscaglia, pinch running for Paris yet again, scored on an Eddington single to right center to tie the game at nine. Henderson scored the go-ahead run on a fielder’s choice after getting walked by Yagodzinskie.
In the final game of the series, the Hawks offense took off, taking down the Retrievers in a 13-0 victory at 1 p.m on Sunday. Kent kept the Retrievers scoreless in his six innings on the mound, striking out 10 of the 20 batters he faced. He also only allowed two runners on. Monmouth dropped their first five runs in the sixth inning. Walsh led-off with a solo homerun to center. Shortly after, Kelly sent one of his own over the center field fence; this one for a grand slam. Those two homers were not enough for the Hawks; Whitehill homered to left center, scoring Buecker, in the 7th to put the Hawks up 8-0.
Senior righty Brendan Kenneally came in for Kent in the bottom of the seventh. He threw two of his own scoreless innings to end the day for Monmouth pitching. The Hawks earned their last five runs in the eighth with some classic small ball, ending the weekend on a good note.
The Hawks look to carry the weekend’s offense and Sunday’s pitching performance into not just their next game but this entire weekend as they open CAA play this Friday afternoon against Towson at John B. Schuerholz Park for a three-game weekend set.
