WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ  -- Thirdbaseman CHRIS MONTENEGRO (Howell, NJ/Howell) delivered a game-winning RBI single in the bottom of the seventh inning as the Monmouth Hawks (9-11, 3-1 NEC) completed a doubleheader sweep of Long Island University (8-9, 2-5 NEC) with a 9-8 victory this afternoon. In the opener, IAN MAGLEY's (Chester, NJ/W. Morris-Mendham) RBI double proved to be the difference as Monmouth posted a 3-2 triumph.

The Hawks squandered a 7-1 lead in the nightcap as Long Island University scored four runs in the sixth inning to take an 8-7 lead. However in its final at-bat, Monmouth scored twice as Magley led off the inning with a base hit and advanced to second on a wild pitch. TOM AMBROSE (Runnemede, NJ/Triton) then sacrificed with Magley beating the throw to third putting runners on the corners. DAVID SANTANA (Somerdale, NJ/Sterling) then lined a single into centerfield off losing pitcher JOE ZECCARDI (0-1) scoring Magley and tying the game at 8-8. Another wild pitch moved Ambrose to third and after fouling off several pitches, Montenegro hit a sinking liner that fell just in front of the centerfielder allowing Ambrose to score with the winning run.

BRIAN GISMONDE (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill West), who recorded a save in the opener, picked up the victory. Gismonde pitched the final two innings allowing two runs and four hits. Santana finished 2-for-5 with three RBI, including a two-run double in the second as Monmouth scored three times to take a 7-1 lead. MICHAEL GRIPPO (Staten Island, NY/Tottenville) had three RBI and JOE GARBOWSKI (New Fairfield, CT/New Fairfield) added a solo homer for the Blackbirds.

In game one, the Blackbirds jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the fourth as Grippo collected and RBI single and MATT EARLY (Brooklyn, NY/Xavier) added a run-scoring base hit as well. Monmouth would answer in its half of the inning with three runs. DAN COIA (Buena, NJ/Buena) drove in a run with a ground out and the Hawks knotted the game at 2-2 when Santana stole home on a perfectly executed double steal. Magley then laced a double down the left field line scoring BRIAN COLLINS (Voorhees, NJ/Eastern Regional) and giving MU a 3-2 lead.

Lefty DAN SEVERINO (Audubon, NJ/Audubon) (2-2) earned the victory, improving to 2-2. Severino went the first five innings before giving way to Gismonde in the sixth. Severino allowed two runs, three hits, struck out six and walked four. Gismonde surrendered just one hit while recording the final six outs for his fifth save of the year, a new Monmouth single-season record.

Game #18 - MONMOUTH 3, LONG ISLAND 2
(at West Long Branch, NJ/March 29, 1999)
 

Long Island Univ. 2 (8-8,2-4 NEC) Name (Pos)                 AB  R  H RBI  BB SO PO  A Nick Burzynski ss.........  3  0  1  0    1  0  3  7  Charles Inserra 2b........  4  0  0  0    0  3  1  3  Sami Abbassi dh...........  3  0  0  0    1  1  0  0  Joe Zeccardi 1b...........  2  1  0  0    1  2  9  1  Joe Garbowski c...........  2  1  1  0    1  0  3  0  Michael Grippo cf.........  3  0  1  1    0  0  1  0  Matt Early rf.............  3  0  1  1    0  0  0  0  Joseph Sottile lf.........  2  0  0  0    0  0  0  0  Brian Tuthill 3b..........  3  0  0  0    0  1  0  0  Kevin Miller p............  0  0  0  0    0  0  1  1   Roger Kalinowski p........ 0  0  0  0    0  0  0  1  Totals.................... 25  2  4  2    4  7 18 13  Monmouth University 3 (8-11,2-1 NEC) Name (Pos)                 AB  R  H RBI  BB SO PO  A Tom Ambrose cf............  2  0  0  0    1  1  1  0  Robert Torres dh..........  3  0  0  0    0  0  0  0  Chris Montenegro 3b.......  3  0  1  0    0  0  0  0  Brian Moyer 1b............  2  0  0  0    1  0  3  3  Greg Landis lf............  1  1  0  0    2  0  2  0  David Santana rf..........  3  1  1  0    0  1  2  1  Dan Coia c................  3  0  0  1    0  1  7  1  Brian Collins 2b..........  1  1  0  0    2  0  3  1   Pat Poehls 2b............. 0  0  0  0    0  0  0  0  Ian Magley ss.............  2  0  1  1    0  0  1  1  Dan Severino p............  0  0  0  0    0  0  1  1   Brian Gismonde p.......... 0  0  0  0    0  0  1  1  Totals.................... 20  3  3  2    6  3 21  9  Score by innings:                   R  H  E ------------------------------------------- Long Island Univ.     000 200 0  -  2  4  1 Monmouth University   000 300    -  3  3  2 ------------------------------------------- E - Miller, Montenegro, Magley.  DP - LIU 1. LOB - LIU 7, Monmouth 5.  2B - Montenegro, Magley.  SB - Santana, Collins.  SH - Sottile.  Long Island Univ.      IP   H   R  ER  BB  SO  AB BF Kevin Miller........  4.0   2   3   3   6   3  13 19  Roger Kalinowski....  2.0   1   0   0   0   0   7  7  Monmouth University    IP   H   R  ER  BB  SO  AB BF Dan Severino........  5.0   3   2   2   4   6  18 23  Brian Gismonde......  2.0   1   0   0   0   1   7  7  Win - Severino 2-2.  Loss - Miller 0-1.  Save - Gismonde (5). WP - Gismonde. BK - Miller.  Umpires -  Start: 1:00   Time: 1:29   Attendance: 69 Game 1 of doubleheader. Severino faced 1 batter in the 6th. PLAY-BY-PLAY Long Island Univ. inning 1   Burzynski fouled out to 2b.  Inserra struck out swinging.  Abbassi grounded   out to 2b.  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Monmouth University inning 1   Ambrose walked.  Torres reached on a fielder's choice; Ambrose out at second   p to ss.  Montenegro grounded into double play 2b to ss to 1b; Torres out on   the play.  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Long Island Univ. inning 2   Zeccardi struck out looking.  J. Garbowski flied out to rf.  Grippo out at   first 1b to p.  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Monmouth University inning 2   Moyer walked.  Moyer advanced to second on a balk.  Landis walked.  Santana   struck out, bunt.  Coia struck out swinging.  Collins walked; Landis   advanced to second; Moyer advanced to third.  Magley reached on a fielder's   choice; Collins out at second ss to 2b.  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 3 LOB. Long Island Univ. inning 3   Early reached on an error by 3b.  Sottile out at first 1b to 2b, SAC; Early   advanced to second.  Tuthill grounded out to p.  Burzynski lined out to rf.    0 runs, 0 hits, 1 error, 1 LOB. Monmouth University inning 3   Ambrose struck out swinging.  Torres grounded out to ss.  Montenegro   grounded out to ss.  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Long Island Univ. inning 4   Inserra struck out swinging, out at first c to 1b.  Abbassi walked.    Zeccardi walked; Abbassi advanced to second.  J. Garbowski singled to right   field; Zeccardi advanced to third; Abbassi out at third rf to c.  Grippo   singled to left field, RBI; J. Garbowski advanced to third; Zeccardi scored.   Early singled to left field, RBI; Grippo advanced to second; J. Garbowski   scored.  Sottile flied out to cf.  2 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB. Monmouth University inning 4   Moyer grounded out to ss.  Landis walked.  Santana singled, advanced to   second on an error by p; Landis advanced to third.  Coia grounded out to ss,   RBI; Santana advanced to third; Landis scored.  Collins walked.  Collins   stole second; Santana stole home.  Magley doubled to left field, RBI;   Collins scored.  Ambrose out at first 1b to p.  3 runs, 2 hits, 1 error, 1   LOB. Long Island Univ. inning 5   Tuthill struck out swinging.  Burzynski walked.  Inserra reached on an error   by ss; Burzynski advanced to second.  Abbassi struck out swinging.  Zeccardi   struck out swinging.  0 runs, 0 hits, 1 error, 2 LOB. Monmouth University inning 5   Kalinowski to p for Miller.  Torres grounded out to 2b.  Montenegro doubled   down the lf line.  Moyer grounded out to 2b; Montenegro advanced to third.    Landis grounded out to ss.  0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Long Island Univ. inning 6   J. Garbowski walked.  Gismonde to p for Severino.  Grippo reached on a   fielder's choice; J. Garbowski out at second p to ss.  Early reached on a   fielder's choice; Grippo out at second ss to 2b.  Sottile flied out to lf.    0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Monmouth University inning 6   Santana grounded out to p, bunt.  Coia flied out to ss.  Collins flied out   to cf.  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Long Island Univ. inning 7   Poehls to 2b for Collins.  Tuthill out at first 1b to p.  Burzynski singled   to left center.  Inserra struck out swinging.  Burzynski advanced to second   on a wild pitch.  Abbassi flied out to lf.  0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Game 1 of doubleheader. Severino faced 1 batter in the 6th.

 
 

Game #20 - MONMOUTH 9, LONG ISLAND 8
(at West Long Branch, NJ/March 29, 1999)
 

Long Island Univ. 8 (8-9,2-5 NEC) Name (Pos)                 AB  R  H RBI  BB SO PO  A Nick Burzynski ss.........  3  2  0  0    1  0  1  3  Joseph Sottile lf.........  1  1  0  1    2  0  3  0  Michael Grippo cf.........  4  1  3  3    0  0  1  0  Joe Zeccardi dh/p.........  4  0  2  2    0  0  0  0  Joe Garbowski 2b..........  4  1  2  1    0  0  0  3  Sami Abbassi 1b...........  3  1  1  0    1  0  8  0  Matt Early c..............  4  1  2  0    0  1  3  0  Brian Tuthill 3b..........  2  1  0  0    2  0  0  1  Mike Wilson rf............  3  0  1  1    0  1  2  0  Mike Hopkins p............  0  0  0  0    0  0  0  0   Roger Kalinowski p........ 0  0  0  0    0  0  0  1   Michael Timmons p......... 0  0  0  0    0  0  0  1  Totals.................... 28  8 11  8    6  2 18  9  Monmouth University 9 (9-11,3-1 NEC) Name (Pos)                 AB  R  H RBI  BB SO PO  A Tom Ambrose cf............  3  3  1  0    1  0  1  0  David Santana rf..........  5  0  2  3    0  0  3  0  Chris Montenegro 3b.......  4  2  2  1    1  1  0  1  Patrick Geroni dh.........  4  1  3  1    0  0  0  0   Brian Collins pr/dh....... 0  0  0  0    0  0  0  0  Greg Landis lf/2b.........  3  1  1  0    0  1  0  0  Brian Moyer 1b............  3  0  2  1    1  0 10  0  Dan Coia c................  2  0  0  2    2  0  2  1  Pat Poehls 2b.............  3  0  0  0    0  0  1  3   Jeff Toth ph.............. 1  0  0  0    0  0  0  0   Robert Torres lf.......... 0  0  0  0    0  0  0  0  Ian Magley ss.............  3  2  3  0    1  0  4  6  Chris Heycock p...........  0  0  0  0    0  0  0  0   Dave Dawson p............. 0  0  0  0    0  0  0  2   Brian Gismonde p.......... 0  0  0  0    0  0  0  2  Totals.................... 31  9 14  8    6  2 21 15  Score by innings:                   R  H  E ------------------------------------------- Long Island Univ.     103 004 0  -  8 11  1 Monmouth University   430 000 2  -  9 14  1 ------------------------------------------- Note: None out, 2 runner(s) LOB when the game ended. E - Early, Magley.  DP - Monmouth 3. LOB - LIU 6, Monmouth 12.  2B - Grippo, Santana.  HR - J. Garbowski.  SB - Burzynski, Ambrose, Montenegro 2, Geroni, Landis, Magley. CS - Sottile.  SH - Ambrose, Landis. SF - Sottile.  Long Island Univ.      IP   H   R  ER  BB  SO  AB BF Mike Hopkins........  1.0   5   7   7   3   0   8 11  Roger Kalinowski....  2.0   2   0   0   2   2   8 10  Michael Timmons.....  2.2   4   0   0   1   0  11 13  Joe Zeccardi........  0.1   3   2   2   0   0   4  5  Monmouth University    IP   H   R  ER  BB  SO  AB BF Chris Heycock.......  0.1   3   1   1   2   0   3  5  Dave Dawson.........  4.2   4   5   4   2   2  17 19  Brian Gismonde......  2.0   4   2   2   2   0   8 11  Win - Gismonde 1-1.  Loss - Zeccardi 0-1.  Save - None. WP - Zeccardi 2, Hopkins, Timmons, Heycock, Dawson 2.  Umpires -  Start: 2:55   Time: 2:40   Attendance: 77 Game 2 of doubleheader. Hopkins faced 3 batters in the 2nd. Dawson faced 2 batters in the 6th. Zeccardi faced 4 batters in the 7th. PLAY-BY-PLAY Long Island Univ. inning 1   Burzynski walked.  Burzynski stole second.  Burzynski advanced to third on a   wild pitch.  Sottile walked.  Sottile out at second c to ss, caught   stealing.  Grippo singled to left center, RBI; Burzynski scored.  Zeccardi   singled to left field; Grippo advanced to second.  J. Garbowski singled to   right field; Zeccardi advanced to second; Grippo advanced to third.  Dawson   to p for Heycock.  Abbassi grounded into double play 2b to ss to 1b; J.   Garbowski out on the play.  1 run, 3 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB. Monmouth University inning 1   Ambrose walked.  Santana grounded out to 2b; Ambrose advanced to second.    Montenegro walked.  Montenegro stole second, advanced to third; Ambrose   stole third, scored on an error by c.  Geroni singled to left field, RBI;   Montenegro scored.  Landis singled to third base; Geroni advanced to second.   Landis stole second; Geroni stole third.  Moyer singled to shortstop, RBI;   Landis advanced to third; Geroni scored.  Coia grounded out to ss, RBI;   Moyer advanced to second; Landis scored.  Poehls grounded out to 2b.  4   runs, 3 hits, 1 error, 1 LOB. Long Island Univ. inning 2   Early struck out swinging.  Tuthill grounded out to 2b.  Wilson grounded out   to ss.  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Monmouth University inning 2   Magley walked.  Ambrose singled to right field; Magley advanced to second.    Ambrose advanced to second on a wild pitch; Magley advanced to third.    Santana doubled to right field, 2 RBI; Ambrose scored; Magley scored.    Kalinowski to p for Hopkins.  Montenegro singled to left field; Santana   advanced to third.  Montenegro stole second.  Geroni reached on a fielder's   choice; Santana out at home 3b to c.  Landis struck out swinging.  Moyer   walked; Geroni advanced to second; Montenegro advanced to third.  Coia   walked, RBI; Moyer advanced to second; Geroni advanced to third; Montenegro   scored.  Poehls grounded out to 2b.  3 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 3 LOB. Long Island Univ. inning 3   Burzynski reached on an error by ss.  Burzynski advanced to second on a wild   pitch.  Burzynski advanced to third on a wild pitch.  Sottile walked.   Grippo doubled to left field, RBI; Sottile advanced to third; Burzynski   scored, unearned.  Zeccardi singled down the lf line, 2 RBI; Grippo scored;   Sottile scored.  J. Garbowski flied out to cf.  Abbassi reached on a   fielder's choice; Zeccardi out at second 3b to 2b.  Early flied out to rf.    3 runs, 2 hits, 1 error, 1 LOB. Monmouth University inning 3   Magley singled to center field.  Ambrose reached on a fielder's choice;   Magley out at second p to ss.  Santana fouled out to lf.  Montenegro struck   out swinging.  0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Long Island Univ. inning 4   Tuthill walked.  Wilson struck out swinging.  Burzynski grounded into double   play ss to 1b; Tuthill out on the play.  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Monmouth University inning 4   Timmons to p for Kalinowski.  Geroni singled to left center.  Landis   grounded out to p, SAC; Geroni advanced to second.  Moyer flied out to rf.    Coia grounded out to ss.  0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Long Island Univ. inning 5   Sottile grounded out to ss.  Grippo grounded out to p.  Zeccardi out at   first p to ss to 1b.  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Monmouth University inning 5   Poehls grounded out to ss.  Magley singled to right field.  Magley stole   second.  Ambrose grounded out to 1b unassisted; Magley advanced to third.    Santana flied out to cf.  0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Long Island Univ. inning 6   J. Garbowski homered to left field, RBI.  Abbassi singled to center field.    Gismonde to p for Dawson.  Early singled to left field; Abbassi advanced to   second.  Tuthill walked; Early advanced to second; Abbassi advanced to   third.  Wilson singled to right field, RBI; Tuthill advanced to second;   Early advanced to third; Abbassi scored.  Burzynski flied out to rf.    Sottile flied out to rf, SF, RBI; Tuthill advanced to third; Early scored.    Grippo singled to right field, RBI; Wilson advanced to second; Tuthill   scored.  Zeccardi grounded out to 2b.  4 runs, 5 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB. Monmouth University inning 6   Montenegro lined out to lf.  Geroni singled to left field.  Collins pinch   ran for Geroni.  Landis lined out to lf.  Moyer singled to center field;   Collins advanced to second.  Moyer advanced to second; Collins advanced to   third on a wild pitch.  Coia walked.  Zeccardi to p.  / for Timmons.  Toth   pinch hit for Poehls.  Toth flied out to rf.  0 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 3   LOB. Long Island Univ. inning 7   Landis to 2b.  Torres to lf for Toth.  J. Garbowski grounded out to p.    Abbassi walked.  Early singled to center field; Abbassi advanced to second.    Tuthill grounded into double play p to ss to 1b; Early out on the play.  0   runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Monmouth University inning 7   Magley singled to right field.  Magley advanced to second on a wild pitch.    Ambrose reached on a fielder's choice, SAC; Magley advanced to third.    Santana singled to center field, RBI; Ambrose advanced to second; Magley   scored.  Collins to dh.  Ambrose advanced to third on a wild pitch.    Montenegro singled, RBI; Santana advanced to second; Ambrose scored.  2   runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB. Game 2 of doubleheader. Hopkins faced 3 batters in the 2nd. Dawson faced 2 batters in the 6th. Zeccardi faced 4 batters in the 7th.