Fort Myers, FL- Jeremy Pryzbylo hit a grand-slam and Beau Hellman and Jeremy Hamilton added RBI doubles as part of a 9-run fourth inning Sunday and the Monmouth defeated the Saint Joseph's College Monks, 16-10, in the second game of the Gene Cusic Classic at Riverside Park.
Sophomore pitcher Steven Myros scattered eight hits in five innings, striking out five and not allowing three runs, all three earned, to pick up the win in his first start of the season.
Centerfielder Jason Salmon doubled to lead off, and scored on an error by first baseman Jesse LaCasse. Designated hitter Nathan Clark, second baseman Tristan Reimolds, and pinch hitter Steve Turner walked, to send Hamilton home. Clark scored on the fourth consecutive walk by a Monk pitcher to pull the Fighting Scots within one, 9-8. Pryzbylo’s grand slam gave Monmouth a 12-8 lead they would never relinquish. Josh Ragar then singled and was later plated by a Hellman double. Hamilton ended the scoring in the fourth for the Fighting Scots when he doubled home Hellman.
Monmouth (1-0) opened the scoring with four runs in the first on a Tristan Reimolds two-run homerun, an RBI single by Hamilton, and Nathan Clark’s fielder’s choice scored Thad King.
Saint Joseph's College (0-2) answered with two runs in the first on an Andy Exley homerun and a Ben Muniz RBI single. With two runs in the top of the second on a homerun by Hellman and a RBI double by King, the Fighting Scots took a 6-2 lead.
Saint Joseph's College took the lead by doing some yard-work of their own in the bottom of the second. Designated Hitter Jake Rodden lead the frame off with a single to the gap in right center, and third baseman followed with his second career home run to make it 6-4. Tyler Bryant was hit by a pitch, was pushed to second on a walk by Exley and scored when first baseman Jesse LaCasse smashed a double, bringing the Monks within one, 6-to-5. Lucas Hannigan’s single plated LaCasse, and he later scored on a Muniz double to give the Monks their first lead of the game at 7-5.
Freshman left fielder Ben Muniz was 3-for-4 with two RBI singles and an RBI double, sophomore Jack Hughes also had two RBI. Tyler Bryant went 3-for-4 with three singles.
