March 28, 2008

Box Score

WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ - It was a tight pitchers' duel for six-and-a-half innings, but Monmouth poured seven runs across the plate in the bottom of the seventh inning to pull away from NJIT and win, 10-3, in the first of three baseball games between the schools scheduled for this weekend.

With the teams scheduled to play again in West Long Branch on Saturday and then in Newark at Bears & Eagles Riverfront Stadium on Sunday at 1 pm, NJIT faced the daunting task of going up against Monmouth's ace, senior RHP Brad Brach, the 2007 Northeast Conference Pitcher of the Year, as well as two-time New Jersey Division I Pitcher of the Year (2006 and 2007).

For the first six innings, NJIT senior LHP Rob Pietrocola (0-2) battled Brach and the Hawks to a near standstill, with the scoreboard reading 3-2 for Monmouth through six innings.

But the Hawks, a 2007 NCAA Division I postseason qualifier, exploded for seven runs in the bottom of the seventh against Pietrocola and reliever RHP Mike Burgaleta.

Brach, who struck out eight on Friday, raising his career strikeout total to a new Monmouth record 226, pitched 7.1 innings against NJIT, allowing two runs on eight hits and a walk. The Highlanders added a ninth inning run against the Hawks' third pitcher on the afternoon, John McDonald.

Pietrocola's line was: 6.1 innings pitched, 7 hits, 8 runs (7 earned), 2 walks and 5 strikeouts. Four of the hits and four of the runs came in the fateful seventh inning.

Burgaleta was charged with two runs in two-thirds of an inning and RHP Spiro Molfetas worked around a leadoff error to notch a scoreless eighth inning for the Highlanders.

DH Nick Pulsonetti was the big hitter for Monmouth, finishing the day 2-for-4, with four RBI and two runs scored. His two-run home run in the second inning tied the game at two and he also singled home two runs in the big seven-run seventh inning.

LF Ryan Terry and C John Dennis each went 2-for-4, as well, with Terry picking up an RBI for the victorious Hawks.

NJIT's batting leader was 2B Miguel Lugo, who was 3-for-3, followed by two hits apiece from 3B Rich Nazario and freshman RF Dom Hayes.

The Highlanders got on the scoreboard first, with a pair of runs in the opening frame. LF Craig Binkiewicz led off with a four-pitch walk and Lugo singled, advancing the speedy Binkiewicz to third.

Lugo then stole second, setting up a two-run single by NJIT's third batter, senior DH Matt Schlitter, who raised his team-leading season runs batted in total to 15.

Monmouth's Brach retired the next three batters in order and NJIT would not score again until the top of the ninth inning.

After a 1-2-3 bottom of the first and the same in the top of the second, Monmouth drew even on Pulsonetti's two-run homer.

The Hawks seized the lead on an unearned run in the third inning, as Shawn Teters dropped in a one-out single, Andy Meyers walked and RF Paul Bottigliero, who had been hit by a pitch and scored on Pulsonetti's home run, was plunked again. With the bases loaded, Pulsonetti lifted a fly ball to left, and an errant throw home allowed Teters to cross the plate, putting Monmouth ahead 3-2.

Monmouth posted a seven-run seventh frame to take a 10-2 advantage. In the inning, the Hawks recorded seven hits, as Bottigliero and Pulsonetti each delivered two-run knocks, and Ryan Terry, who led off the inning with a single and run, rounded out the scoring with an RBI single.

The Highlanders got back a lone run in the top of the ninth, as Hayes singled leading off and then got to third thanks to two wild pitches sandwiched around an out. Hayes scored on a ground out by CF Ricky Petrosino.

Saturday's game for NJIT at Monmouth is scheduled to start at 1 pm.

(play description courtesy of Monmouth sports information)