Baseball falls in 12 to Monmouth

MONMOUTH TAKES OPENER IN 12 INNINGS, 4-1

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Monmouth scored three runs in the top of the 12^th inning to break a 1-1 tie on its way to a 4-1 victory over the Bryant University baseball team on Friday afternoon at Conaty Park.

The Bulldogs' (33-15-1, 20-5 NEC) seven-game winning streak was snapped with the loss and the Hawks (29-18, 18-7) moved within two games of Bryant for first place in the NEC standings.

With the game tied in the top of the 12^th inning, the Hawks started their rally with two outs and nobody on base. Dan Shea was hit by a pitch, stole second and then scored the winning run as Robbie Alessandrine dropped a single down the right field line. Monmouth tacked on two more runs thanks to an outfield error and an RBI single from Steve Wilgus.

It didn't appear, however, the game would ever get that far. Bryant grabbed a 1-0 lead in its very first at-bat as senior Dan Muscatello (Hopkinton, Mass.) doubled to right-center field to lead off the game. He scored two batters later as classmate Kevin Brown (Northborough, Mass.) roped a single into right field. The Bulldogs had their chances to score more but could not push another run across. They loaded the bases with one out in the third but Monmouth starter Andrew McGee got a pop up to third and a strikeout to end the threat. They put two on with one out in the sixth as well but a pair of fly outs ended the inning.

Bryant then had a chance to win the game in the ninth, 10^th and 11^th innings. Sophomore Daniel St. George (Shelton, Conn.) led off the ninth with a single and advanced to second on a sac bunt but was stranded. Muscatello started the 10^th with a single but a 4-6-3 double play ball ended the threat. In the 11^th, Bryant had its best chance but came up empty handed thanks to a great defensive play. St. George and freshman Robby Rinn (Warwick, R.I.) singled to put runners on the corners with one out but MU reliever Jeff Paglione responded by striking out the next batter. The Bulldogs then called on sophomore Matt Zanotta (Schenectady, N.Y.) to pinch-hit and he sent a ground ball through the right side that appeared to have won the game. Jake Gronsky, however, ranged to his left, fielded and threw Zanotta out by a half a step at first to keep the game tied.

In what was expected to be one of the top pitching matchups of the season, Bryant's Peter Kelich (Jackson, N.J.) and Monmouth's McGee didn't disappoint. Kelich allowed hits in each of the first two innings but then didn't allow another Hawk hit until John Guida tripled with two outs in the seventh. He promptly responded by striking out the next batter to keep the game 1-0. Kelich allowed his only run in the eighth as Shea doubled to start the frame and scored two batters later on a sac fly from Gronsky. Over 7.1 innings, Kelich allowed one run on five hits, struck out seven and issued just one walk.

McGee was just as marvelous, throwing 10 innings for the second-straight start. He settled down after the tough first inning and was able to work out of several jams on the afternoon. McGee allowed one run on nine hits, struck out five and walked two.

Sophomore Trevor Lacosse (Watervliet, N.Y.) came on in the eighth and tossed 1.2 scoreless innings of relief before senior Salvatore Lisanti (Bronx, N.Y.) took over in the 10^th. He allowed three runs (two earned) on three hits in 2.2 innings, suffering his second loss of the year. Offensively, Muscatello and St. George each finished with three hits.

Bryant and Monmouth will continue their series on Saturday with a doubleheader scheduled to begin at 1:00 p.m. With rain in the forecast, the schedule could be affected.