Box Score / Box Score (PDF)

West Long Branch, NJ - Monmouth edged Wagner 3-2 in the first game of a doubleheader at the MU Baseball Field.

Behind Andrew McGee's complete game victory, the Hawks improve to 18-12 and 10-3 in the Northeast Conference (NEC) while the Seahawks fall to 12-17 and 5-4 in the league.

McGee improved to 6-1 with his fifth complete game performance of the season, striking out five while allowing two runs, one earned, on six hits over 9.0 innings of work.

Despite registering his third-straight complete game, Ryan Casey (Paramus, NJ / St. Joseph Regional) fell to 2-4 as the junior righty limited the Hawks to just three runs over 8.0 innings of action

The Green & White threatened in the first inning as junior Ian Miller (Downingtown, PA / Bishop Shanahan) blooped a single to left field, before stealing second and moving to third on a Chris Smith (Tampa, FL / Freedom / Ellsworth CC (IA)) sacrifice bunt. However, Miller would be stranded in scoring position as McGee induced a short pop to right, before quelling the threat with a strikeout.

McGee would settle down and allow just three batters reach safely over the next four frames.

Casey was equally impressive for Wagner, setting down 10 in a row to start the game and 15-of-16 over the first five innings.

The Seahawks would finally break through with a pair of runs top of the sixth inning. Smith reached via an error to lead off the frame, sophomore Nick Dini (Monroe Township, NJ / Monroe Township) stroked what appeared to be a triple down the right field line. However, after a conference at the mound the umpires ruled the ball foul and Smith back to first. Undaunted, Dini crushed the next pitch he saw to the left center gap, scoring Smith. Senior Nick Alfano (Coral Springs, FL / North Broward Prep) then capped the scoring with a sacrifice fly to left field, chasing home Dini.

In the bottom part of the frame, the Hawks immediately answered with three runs in taking what would prove to be an insurmountable 3-2 lead. Joe Shea led off with a home run, before Kyle Perry hit a double to left center. After Casey induced a fly out, Jake Gronsky was plunked. Chris Perret then moved the runners to second-and-third with a ground out, before Owen Stewart plated the pair with a single down the left field line.

Wagner would threaten in the top of the ninth when senior Jayson Keel (Starkville, MS / Starkville / Holmes CC) singled to right center with one out.  Unfortunately, McGee beared down and retired the next two batters.

Junior Shaun Flynn (Tabernacle, NJ / Seneca / Burlington CC) and Keel each went 2-for-4 to pace the Seahawks' six-hit attack.

Stewart went 2-for-4 with two RBI to pace MU's six-hit attack.

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Photography by Dave Saffran