Box Score WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. – Monmouth defeated Saint Peter's 17-6 to complete a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) baseball three-game series sweep on Sunday. With the loss, the Peacocks were eliminated from playoff contention.
Jon Kristoffersen (Jefferson, N.J./Jefferson Township) paced the Peacocks (9-35-1, 6-15 MAAC) with three hits, including a three-run homer in the ninth, four RBIs and a run scored. Mike Ionta (Westfield, N.J./Westfield) added three hits, an RBI and a run scored while James Spadaccini (Butler, N.J./Butler) posted two hits and two runs scored in the loss.
Chris Gaetano powered the Hawks (21-20, 13-8 MAAC) with three hits, three RBIs and two runs scored. Dave Moreano posted two hits and three RBIs while Kyle Perry registered four hits, two RBIs and two runs scored in the winning effort.
Monmouth celebrated senior day by scoring in every inning except the eighth en route to its first conference sweep of Saint Peter's after the Peacocks won two of three last season in Jersey City.
The Hawks jumped out to a 2-0 lead after scoring a run in the first and the second. Steve Wilgus started the scoring when he touched home on a wild pitch in the first before Adam Yunglinger scored on an error in the second for a two-run lead.
The Peacocks got on the scoreboard in the third after Spadaccini single to right field and came around to score on Kristoffersen's RBI double to center to trim the margin to 2-1.
Monmouth answered by scoring the next eight runs to take a 10-1 advantage.
After Gaetano scored on a wild pitch in the third, Yunginger smacked a leadoff homer in the fourth and Dan Shea hit a two-run double down the right field line for a 6-1 advantage.
In the sixth, the Hawks plated four runs thanks to a two-run double to center, a Gaetano sacrifice fly and a Perry RBI double for a nine-run lead.
Saint Peter's responded with two runs in the seventh to cut the margin to 10-3. Rob Moore (Ridge, N.Y./Longwood) and Sean Henry (Brick, N.J./Brick Township) each singled before Ionta plated Moore on an RBI infield single and Henry touched home when Spadaccini grounded into a double play.
Monmouth then posted seven runs in the seventh. Gaetano started the scoring with a two-run single to right center before Perry plated a run on an infield single. Yunginger brought home another run with an RBI single before Moreno capped the seven-run outburst with a bases-loaded bases-clearing double to left center for a 17-3 lead.
The Peacocks registered three runs in the ninth to set the final score at 17-6. After Ionta doubled to right center and Spadaccini, Kristoffersen smacked a three-run homer to right field.
Anthony Assante (Brick, N.J./Brick Memorial) took the loss.
Saint Peter's will travel to Rutgers for its final non-conference and road game of the season on Tuesday at 6 p.m. The Peacocks will then conclude its 2015 campaign at home against Marist on May 16-17. The Red Foxes officially eliminated Saint Peter's from playoff contention thanks to a walk-off 1-0 10 inning win against Fairfield on Sunday.
