Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. – Monmouth swept a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) baseball doubleheader against Saint Peter's after winning the opening game 12-3 and then earning a 1-0 win in the nightcap on Saturday.
John Leiter (Toms River, N.J./Toms River) was the hard-luck loser in the nightcap after allowing one run on three hits with three strikeouts in a seven-inning complete game. Leiter was outdone on the mound by T.J. Hunt, who tossed a seven-inning complete-game no-hitter with five strikeouts and two walks for the Hawks.
Zach Rawson (Ashburn, Va./Broad Run) paced the Peacocks (9-34, 6-14 MAAC) with two hits and scored all three of the squad's runs on the afternoon. Jose Martinez (Brown Mills, N.J./Remberton Township) added two hits and an RBI while Sean Henry (Brick, N.J./Brick Township) registered a hit and an RBI in the loss.
Steve Wilgus powered the Hawks (20-20, 12-8 MAAC) with four hits, two RBIs and two runs scored on the day. Justin Trochiano added two hits, three RBIs and a run scored while Shane Hughes recorded two hits, three RBIs and a run scored in the twinbill.
After 15 runs were scored in the opener including 12 runs in the final four innings, the two teams settled for a good old fashion pitchers duel in the nightcap in the 1-0 decision.
A pair of walks in the second helped Monmouth score the only run of the game. A leadoff walk and a walk with one help put runners on first and second before Trochiano smacked an RBI single to center to record the lone run of the second game.
Saint Peter's had three base runners in the nightcap as Hunt only faced two batters over the minimum. Chris Hugg (Ironia, N.J./Randolph) reached on an error in the first and Martinez walked in the second only to be picked off first. Hunt then retired the next 11 batters before James Spadaccini (Butler, N.J./Butler) walked with one out in the sixth. Spadaccini became the only player to reach second base when he moved up on a ground out, but was left stranded as Hunt retired the final four batters he faced to complete the no-hitter.
In the opener, Monmouth defeated the Peacocks 12-3.
Saint Peter's grabbed a 1-0 lead in the fourth. Rawson singled up the middle with two outs and came around to score on Martinez's RBI double to left center.
The lead was short lived after Trochiano gave the Hawks the lead for good on a two-run single in the bottom of the fourth for a 2-1 advantage.
Monmouth then added six runs in the sixth to take an 8-1 lead. Wilgus started the scoring in the stanza with a two-run double before Chris Gaetano and Kyle Perry each coaxed bases loaded walks and Dan Shea capped the rally with a two-run single to right for a seven-run margin.
The Peacocks answered with a run in the seventh. Rawson singled to right field, moved to second on Martinez's opposite field single and touched home on Henry's RBI infield single to cut the margin to 8-2.
The Hawks added a run in the seventh on a Perry sacrifice fly and Hughes cleared the bases with a three-run double to right center in the eighth to increase the Monmouth lead to 12-2.
Rawson reached for the third time in the game in the ninth on an error and scored when Vinny Maietta (Franklin Square, N.J./St. Mary) grounded into a double play to set the final score at 12-3.
Willie Krajnik (Lyndhurst, N.J./Saint Mary) took the loss after allowing two runs on eight hits with three strikeouts in five innings.
After splitting the first two games of the series in the first four MAAC series, Saint Peter's has been swept in the doubleheader for the second-straight week. The Peacocks are 0-6 in the final game of the series this season.
Saint Peter's is three games back of the final playoff spot with four games to play.
The two teams will conclude its three-game series on Sunday. Game time is 12 p.m.
