April 28, 2003

Final Stats

W. LONG BRANCH, NJ - The Sacred Heart baseball team was officially eliminated from the Northeast Conference Tournament sweepstakes today when they dropped a 14-4 decision at Monmouth University. Monmouth, which completed a three-game sweep, used a ten unearned runs in the third inning to put the game away.

The Pioneers, 12-24 overall and 7-13 in the NEC, staked starter Chuck Ristano to a 2-1 lead in the top of the third on RBI singles by Greg Delmonico and Brian Rojee.

Ristano got the first batter in the bottom of the third before Mike Kelly reached on an infield error. Jon Lewis was next for the Hawks and he laid down a bunt that forced Kelly at second. Lance Koenig then singled to center to put two on with two out. Frank Pilitowski grounded to second for what should have been the third out, but Delmonico committed his second error of the inning that scored Lewis.

That opened the floodgates and nine batters, six hits and another error later, the Hawks had a 11-2 lead.

The Pioneers scored two more in the top of the fourth on an RBI single by Chris Vartuli and a double play groundout.

Ristano started the fourth and gave up a leadoff single to Evan Clancy. Fran Rotella then hit a homer to left to end Ristano's day. Freshman Rob McKee came on and would give up a run on an RBI double by Kelly in that inning, but would hold the Hawks scoreless the rest of the way.