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West Long Branch, NJ - Monmouth defeated Wagner 5-4 in the first game of today's Northeast Conference (NEC) doubleheader at the MU Baseball Field. Down 5-0 the Seahawks made a game of it late scoring four runs their last time up before falling just short.

The Hawks improve to 19-13 and 14-5 in the NEC while the Green & White fall to 10-23 and 8-11 in the NEC.

Monmouth threatened to score in the game's first frame as Jamie Rosenkranz and Ed Martin led the game off with singles. Senior RHP Jon Lucas (Hackettstown, NJ / Hackettstown) silenced the threat by inducing a double-play grounder before striking out Danny Avella with this 2-2 offering.

Wagner posted its first threat of the game in the top of the third inning. Sophomore Nick Alfano (Coral Springs, FL / North Broward Prep) led off with this nifty bunt down the third base line. After moving to second on a Jack Rice (Sr., Middlesex, NJ / Immaculata) sacrifice bunt, junior Eddie Brown (Edison, NJ / St. Joseph's (Metuchen)) singled to the shortstop. Senior Seth Boyd (Perth Amboy, NJ / Perth Amboy) moved the pair to second-and-third on a ground out, but Hawk starter LHP Dan Smith struck out the next batter while keeping the Seahawks off the board.

Monmouth threatened to score in the bottom of the inning with a two-out rally as Rosenkranz walked before moving to third on an Ed Martin single to right field. Lucas was able to avert trouble, inducing an inning-ending grounder to Boyd.

The Hawks broke the scoreless stalemate in the next frame, scoring three runs on a pair of hits and two walks. Avella and Nick Pulsonetti led off the fourth inning with free passes. Ed Martin moved the pair to second-and-third with a perfectly placed bunt single just. Cal Costanzo made it 1-0 with RBI fielder's choice. Pulsonetti then came around to score on a successful double steal. Josh Boyd capped the scoring with a run-scoring single through the right side, plating Costanzo.

Wagner threatened in the top of the fifth inning as Alfano singled with one out before Rice walked. Unfortunately, Alfano was picked off of second before Smith got the final out of the inning via a strikeout.

Monmouth added two unearned runs in the bottom of the frame while extending their lead out to 5-0.

The Seahawks again threatened in the top of the sixth inning, loading the bases with one out. Boyd singled before senior Kevin McDonnell (Bristol, CT / Avon Old Farms) reached via an error on a sacrifice bunt. Following an out, classmate Joe Conforti (Staten Island, NY / Farrell) walked on four pitches while forcing Smith from the game. Unfortunately, the Green & White was denied by Monmouth closer LHP Andrew McGee as the rookie relief specialist struck out the first batter he faced before inducing an inning-ending ground out.

After freshman reliever RHP Matt Gavin (St. James, NY / Smithtown East) retired the Hawks without incident, Wagner made its move in the top of the seventh inning.

With one out, pinch hitter freshman Connor Abreu (Piscataway, NJ / Piscataway) reached via an error. Classmate Ian Vazquez (Guaynabo, Puerto Rico / Perkiomen (PA)) followed with a single to right center. Boyd then drew a four-pitch walk, loading up the bases. McDonnell forced in the first Seahawk run with a walk of his own, plating Abreu. Junior Tommy Higgins (Port Monmouth, NJ / Red Bank Catholic) cut the deficit to 5-2 when he reached via catcher's interference, forcing in Vazquez. Conforti was then plunked, scoring Boyd. Sophomore Gaby Ramirez (San Juan, Puerto Rico / Perkiomen (PA)) drew the Green & White to within one at 5-4 with a RBI ground out while moving Higgins to third base. Unfortunately, the rally would go for naught at McGee induced a game-ending fly out while preserving the Monmouth victory with his sixth save of the year.

Lucas (1-5) was the tough-luck loser, yielding five runs, three earned, on seven hits with three strikeouts over 5.0 solid frames. Smith (2-2) earned the win, striking out three while scattering five hits over 5.1 scoreless frames.

Alfano went 2-for-2, leading a six-hit Wagner attack while Conforti reached base safely three times in four plate appearances.

NOTES: Former Seahawks Vin Avella, Damian Csakai, Chris Drechsel and Mike Tuozzo were in attendance … The Green & White scored its four seventh-inning runs on the strength of just one hit while batting around … Wagner went just 1-for-9 (.111) with runners in scoring position … Alfano is now 4-for-6 over his last three games after starting the year 0-for-14.