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West Long Branch, NJ - Monmouth plated two runs in the bottom of the eighth inning while breaking a 3-3 stalemate en route to a 5-3 victory over Wagner in the first of four games between the teams at the MU Baseball. In defeat, the Seahawks fall to 10-21 and 8-9 in the Northeast Conference (NEC) while the Hawks improve to 17-13 and 12-5 in the NEC.

The Green & White recorded five of its six hits with two outs, including all three runs but was just 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position (.125), compared with 4-of-11 (.364) for homestanding Monmouth.

The Hawks posted the first scoring threat of the game in the bottom of the second inning when Nick Pulsonetti led off with a double to left center. Pulsonetti moved over to third on a ground out but was left stranded when senior Seth Boyd (Perth Amboy, NJ / Perth Amboy) got the Monmouth designated hitter at the plate with a perfect strike on a fielder's choice.

After recording just one base runner over the first three frames, senior Seth Boyd (Perth Amboy, NJ / Perth Amboy) led off the fourth inning with a single through the right side. Wagner proceeded to load the bases up on walks to junior Tommy Higgins (Port Monmouth, NJ / Red Bank Catholic) and sophomore Nick Alfano (Coral Springs, FL / North Broward Prep). Unfortunately, Hawk LHP Nick Meyers struck out the next batter, escaping unscathed.

The Seahawks dented the scoreboard first in the top of the sixth inning with a two-out rally. Higgins got things started when he poked this 0-2 pitch to center field for a base hit. Junior Jon Lucas (Hackettstown, NJ / Hackettstown) followed with a double to left center, plating Higgins all the way from first. Alfano followed with a bloop single to right field that scored Lucas while pushing out the Green & White lead to 2-0.

After allowing Pulsonetti's lead-off double in the bottom of the second inning, Wagner RHP Mark Holmes (Manalapan, NJ / Manalapan) settled in while retiring eight-straight and 13-of-14 before Jake Gronsky singled with one out in the bottom of the sixth.

Ryan Terry followed Gronsky's single with a single of his own. On the play, the ball got past the Wagner outfield for a two-base error allowing Gronsky to score and Terry to get to third. After Holmes induced a pop out, Pulsonetti crushed another double to left center, scoring Terry. Ed Martin then reached on an error, allowing Pulsonetti to score while giving the Monmouth a 3-2 lead.

In the top of the seventh inning after Meyers struck out the first two batters without incident, junior Eddie Brown (Edison, NJ / St. Joseph's (Metuchen)) appeared to strike out but the foul tip could not be corralled by the catcher giving the Wagner second baseman a second chance. Brown took full advantage, crushing this offering to deep left field for his third home run of the year while tying the game up at 3-3.

Meyers exited after 7.0 solid innings, striking out a career-best 10 while allowing three runs on five hits in earning a no-decision.

After Holmes set the Hawks down in order in the bottom part of the frame, Higgins led off with a four-pitch walk but was unable to score after being stranded at second base.

Monmouth went in front in the bottom of the eighth with a pair of runs. Terry hit a one-out double to left field. Danny Avella moved Terry to third with a bloop single before Pulsonetti put the Hawks in front with a single up the middle, scoring Terry. Avella would come around to score later in the inning on an Ed Martin infield single, making it 5-3.

The Seahawks would threaten in the top of the ninth inning, placing runners on second-and-third with two outs before Hawk closer LHP Andrew McGee left the runners stranded with a game-ending strike out for his fifth save of the year.

Boyd collected his team-best 12th multi-hit game of the year, finishing up 2-for-4 with a double, walk and two stolen bases while Higgins went 1-for-2 with a run and two walks.

Leading the way for Monmouth was Pulsonetti, who went 3-for-3 with two doubles and two RBI, and Terry, who was 3-for-4 with two runs.

Senior RHP Matt Frazier (2-1) earned the win, striking out one over a scoreless inning of work. Holmes (3-4) was the tough-luck loser for the Green & White, firing his second-straight complete game and yielding five runs, three earned, with one strikeout over 8.0 solid innings.

The teams will resume play with a doubleheader tomorrow starting at 11:00 am.

NOTES: Wagner career home run and RBI leader Vin Avella and his family were at the game as were the parents of all-time hits leader Damian Csakai … Tomorrow's doubleheader start time has been moved up two hours due to the threat of afternoon rain … Boyd is now hitting .347 (17-for-49) in 15 career games against Monmouth with eight runs, six RBI and five stolen bases while hitting safely 11 times with six multi-hit games against the Hawks ... Alfano was 1-for-2 with a RBI and two walks after previously reaching base safely just four times in 13 previous games … Senior right-handers Dale Hering (Belle Mead, NJ / Montgomery) and Lucas will get the starting assignments tomorrow.