Box Score JERSEY CITY, N.J. – Monmouth rallied past Saint Peter's 11-7 in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) baseball action on Friday.
Tommy Toole (Manasquan, N.J./Manasquan) paced the Peacocks (4-21, 0-7 MAAC) with a hit, two RBIs and a run scored while James Spadaccini (Butler, N.J./Butler) posted two hits, a run scored and an RBI and Rob Moore (Ridge, N.Y./Longwood) registered two runs scored and a hit in the loss.
Shaine Hughes powered the Hawks (16-13, 6-1 MAAC) with two hits, two runs scored and four RBIs while Robbie Alessandrine recorded three hits, two runs scored and an RBI in the winning effort.
The game started out as pitchers dual in the first five innings with only one run score before 17 runs were scored in the final four innings with Monmouth scoring 10 of the last 12 runs to earn the victory in the three-game series opener.
With the score tied at 6, the Hawks posted five runs in the top of the nine to take an 11-6 lead.
Ryan Bailey gave Monmouth the lead for good when he hit a slow roller to third and Hughes did not stop running from second to score the go-ahead run when the throw went to field base. Cary Jacobson then scored on a wild pitch before Alessandrine added an RBI single through the left side. The Hawks then successfully pulled off a double steal with Chris Holland touching home before Justin Trochino hit an RBI single through the left side to cap the five-run rally.
In the bottom of the inning, Saint Peter's scored a run to set the final score at 11-7. Moore started the inning with a single and moved to second on a groundout before Spadaccini and Toole walked to load the bases with one out. Gary Puente (Linden, N.J./Linden) then brought home Moore on an RBI fielder's choice before a strikeout ended the game.
The Peacocks took a 1-0 lead in the first inning and held that margin through five innings.
Angel Perez (Jersey City,N.J./Marist HS) started the bottom of the first with an infield single before Mike Ionta (Westfield, N.J./Westfield) singled to left field. A groundout moved the runners up to second and third before Moore walked to load the bases. Spadaccini then coaxed a bases loaded walk to give Saint Peter's a 1-0 edge.
The Peacocks starter John Leiter (Toms River, N.J./Toms River South) recorded 10 of the first 15 outs on strikeouts in the first five innings.
Monmouth tied the game in the sixth on an RBI single down the left field line. Leiter got out of a bases loaded one out jam with a pair of strikeouts to bring his strikeout total to 12 through six innings.
The game did not stay tied long after the Peacocks scored four runs in the bottom of the inning to reclaim the lead at 5-1.
Moore walked with one out and Nick Ciocco (Cherry Hill, N.J./Cherry Hill) singled off the glove of the third baseman before Spadaccini singled to left field while Moore and Ciocco touched home as the ball went through the left fielder's legs with Spadaccini ending up on third. Toole brought home Spadaccini on a run-scoring single up the middle. Puente walked and Nick Cardamone singled to right center to load the bases. Perez plated Toole on an RBI fielder's choice to give Saint Peter's a four-run lead.
The Hawks answered with five runs in the seventh to take their first lead at 6-5. Monmouth's first run was scored on an error before Hughes smacked a bases-clearing three-run triple to right center to tie the game. Jacobson handed Monmouth a one-run edge on an RBI single to left center.
The Peacocks tied the game in the bottom of inning. Jon Kristoffersen (Jefferson, N.J./Jefferson Township) reached on an error before Jason Midkiff (Wanaque, N.J./Paramus Catholic) singled off the third baseman's glove and Spadaccini loaded the bases with one out on a single to right field. Toole tied the game with a bases loaded walk, but a strikeout and a groundout ended the threat and the contest went into the ninth tied before the Hawks scored five runs to come away with the 11-7 victory.
Michael Ammerman (Howell, N.J./Howell) took the loss for Saint Peter's.
Leiter registered a career-high in strikeouts with 12 and it marked the second time in his career he has posted double figures in strikeouts.
Due to the impending weather, no games are scheduled for Saturday. The two teams will return to Jaroschak Field to complete the three-game series on Sunday with a seven-inning affair followed by a nine-inning game. First pitch is set for 12 p.m.
