April 13, 2008
Box Score
Staten Island, NY - Monmouth shut out Wagner 6-0 in the final game of the teams' four-game set at the Richmond County Bank Ballpark. The Hawks improve to 18-9 and 7-1 in the Northeast Conference (NEC) while the Seahawks fall to 13-15 and 5-3 in the NEC.
The Seahawks had their chances stranding nine runners, including six in the game's first four innings, while the Hawks left just four. Wagner's bats were also just 1-8 with runners in scoring position.
In the bottom of the first, sophomore Vin Avella (Matawan, NJ / CBA) continued his torrid hitting with a two-out line-drive single up the middle. Avella moved over to second with his second steal of the year but was stranded in scoring position.
After sophomore Matt Watson (Howell, NJ / Howell) retired Monmouth in order in the first, Paul Bottigliero doubled to lead off the second. After moving over to third on a ground out, Bottigliero scored on a Chris Collazo ground out.
Sophomore Kevin Payne (Staten Island, NY / St. Peter's) singled with one out in the bottom part of the inning and moved to second on a wild pitch but would not advance any further.
Avella then recorded another two-out single in the third. Sophomore Kevin McDonnell (Bristol, CT / Avon Old Farms) singled Avella to third but again Monmouth pitcher Brett Brach escaped damage by inducing a ground out.
Both teams went in order in the fourth before the Hawks pushed two runs across the board in the fifth. Brett Holland reached on a 60-foot single to third base that somehow stayed fair. John Dennis moved Holland into scoring position with a sac-bunt before Kyle Higgins brought Holland around with a single to center. Monmouth then took advantage of a bizarre play on its way to scoring the game's third run. Shawn Teters hit what looked like a routine play to second but the ball took a wicked hop off of freshman second baseman Jared Gruccio's (Landisville, NJ / Buena Regional) shoulder before landing in right field, resulting in a double. Andy Meyers capitalized with a sacrifice fly to make it 3-0.
Nick Pulsonetti opened the sixth with an infield single and was moved to second on a sac bunt. Ryan Terry made it 4-0 with a RBI single up the middle, scoring Pulsonetti. Holland capped the game's scoring with his first home run of the year, a two-run shot to right field while ending Watson's day.
Wagner would finally chase Brach in the sixth when McDonnell and freshman Jon Lucas (Hackettstown, NJ / Hackettstown) led off the frame with singles. Unfortunately, Tim Ballard picked up his fellow righty, inducing three-straight outs on the way to retiring 11 in a row before sophomore Joe Conforti's (Staten Island, NY / Farrell) two-out single in the ninth.
Pitching effectively in relief for the Green & White was the duo of junior RHP Kevin Rush (Metuchen, NJ / Metuchen) and senior LHP Chris Marino (Manalapan, NJ / Manalapan). Rush hurled 2.2 innings of no-hit ball with one strikeout while Marino tallied 1.0 inning of scoreless relief.
Watson (3-4) was the hard-luck loser, surrendering six runs on eight hits, four of which were of the infield variety, with two strikeouts over 5.1 innings of work.
Brach (2-1) struck out seven while scattering six hits and one walk over 5.0 innings in picking up the win. Ballard worked 4.0 scoreless innings of relief in recording his first save of the season.
Avella and McDonnell each recorded two hits to lead Wagner.
Holland went 3-4 with a two-run home run to pace Monmouth.
Wagner returns to action on Wednesday, April 16 at Seton Hall. First pitch is slated for 3:30 pm.
