B Drop Two out Three to Marist
Sports

Baseball Drops Two of Three to Marist

The baseball team dropped their first two home games of the season as they lost two out of three in a weekend series against Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) opponent Marist at MU Baseball Field.

Monmouth defeated Marist 7-2 in the first game on Friday, April 14 after a five run eighth inning to break the 2-2 tie. Sophomore right-handed pitcher Jordan McCrum pitched a gem, throwing 6⅔ innings, allowing no earned runs (one unearned) on a career-high seven strikeouts.

“[Jordan] was great. He got us this one win this weekend based on how he played,” said Head Coach Dean Ehehalt. “We didn’t help him out on defense and he held those guys at bay the whole game. We were fortunate to get an outing like that out of him.”

Marist and Monmouth got on the board quick, with Marist scoring one on the top half of the first on a Monmouth fielding error. The Hawks countered with two walks to senior infielders Grant Lamberton and Shaine Hughes to lead off the bottom of the first. Senior outfielder Dan Shea drove in Lamberton with a single. Junior designated hitter Pete Papcun followed up with a sacrifice fly to bring in Hughes and give the Hawks a 2-1 lead.

McCrum left the game with the bases loaded and two out in the seventh, but senior right-handed pitcher Ben Hoffman would get the ground out to end the inning to save the lead for Monmouth. Marist ended up tying the game in the eighth after a single, an MU throwing error, and a single to make it 2-2.

In the bottom of the eighth, after two lead-off walks, junior infielder Justin Trochiano laid down a perfect bunt down the third base line which was thrown into right field, allowing both runners to score. Lamberton then drove in a run with a single, followed by Papcun driving in two with a single to left, extending the lead to 7-2.

“I thought our at-bats were good throughout the game and we were able to execute late,” said Ehehalt. “Pete [Papcun] had two big at-bats and Trochiano’s bunt was outstanding.”

Lamberton finished the game with two runs scored, while Papcun ended with three runs batted in (RBI). Hoffman earned the win finishing the game with 2⅓ innings, allowing two hits and no earned runs (one unearned).

In game two of the series against Marist, Monmouth lost their first home game of the year, 5-4 on Saturday, April 15.

Marist scored three runs in the first inning, with a three-run home run off of sophomore left-handed pitcher Kyle Ajjan, who also gave up a run each in the third and fifth innings. Ajjan finished with five innings pitched with five runs (four earned).

Monmouth came back scoring four runs in the seventh and final inning of the game. Hughes and Papcun each drive in runs with a single, then sophomore catcher Clay Koniencki drove in two with a single on a dropper behind first base to make it a one run game. Senior outfielder Ryan Crowley struck out looking to end the game with the tying run left at third.

“We have to be able to play a complete game,” said Ehehalt. “That was our fifth one-run loss in conference that we’ve had.”

In the third and final game of the series, Monmouth lost the rubber game 7-1. “We didn’t come out with any intensity. We didn’t play with any purpose and you can see the results,” Ehehalt said. “I thought we could’ve played much better and of course we didn’t.”

Marist scored five runs in the third inning off of sophomore right-handed pitcher Tyler Ksiazek. He finished the game with three innings pitched, allowing five earned runs on three hits. The Hawks lone run came off of a sacrifice fly from Shea in the fifth, scoring Trochiano.

The Hawks are now 11-20 on the season and 6-6 in the MAAC. They host a non-conference match up against Lafayette on Wednesday, April 19 at 3:30 p.m.

PHOTO COURTESY of Karlee Sell