FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, April 28, 2004

Staten Island, N.Y. – Wagner College sophomore centerfielder Nick Papa went 2-4 with five RBI and Seahawk pitchers John Crowley, Rob Kostic, Andrew Bailey and Mike McTamney scattered six Monmouth hits as Wagner defeated the Hawks, 6-2 today at Willets Field. With the loss, Monmouth falls to 19-22-1 and 11-6 in the NEC, while Wagner improves to 13-23 overall and 7-9 in league play.

Monmouth pushed a run across in the top of the first inning when senior Mike Kelly (Freehold, N.J./Freehold Boro) laced a two-out, RBI single to left field to drive in junior Jon Lewis (Ocean Gate, N.J./Central Regional), who singled to lead off the game.

Wagner answered with a run of their own in the bottom of the first inning when senior Chris Dick tied the Wagner record of 31 career home runs with a drive over the right field fence off MU starter Cip Apicelli (Oakhurst, N.J./Ocean Township).

Papa then highlighted the three-run Wagner third inning when he stroked a bases-loaded double to centerfield to plate Kane Furst, Dick and Matt Mastrianni and give the Green & White a 4-1 advantage.

Two innings later, the Seahawks upped their lead to 6-1 when Papa connected on a two-out, two-run homer to rightcenter field to drive in Troy Sogluizzo, who walked to lead off the inning.

Crowley tossed 4.2 innings, allowing one earned run while striking out six Monmouth batters and gave way to Kostic who earned the victory on the mound after pitching 2.1 innings of scoreless ball. Bailey and McTamney pitched the eighth and ninth innings, respectively in relief.

Apicelli (2-2) was saddled with the loss, making his first career NEC start, throwing 5.0 innings, allowing six runs on seven hits, while striking out three. Sophomore Vince Grande (Barnegat, N.J./Southern Regional) pitched the final 3.0 frames for the Hawks, allowing just one hit and striking out one.

Kelly finished 2-for-2 with two RBI after hitting a solo homer, his second of the season, off Bailey in the eighth inning to lead the Monmouth attack.

Papa finished 2-4 with a run scored and five RBI while Dick went 3-4 with a RBI and two runs scored for Wagner. Mastrianni, Furst and sophomore Joey Malfettano all had hits for the Seahawks.

Monmouth returns to action on Thursday, April 29, when the Hawks travel to Rutgers University for a game at 3:30 pm.

Wagner College 6, Monmouth University 2 (04/28/04 at Staten Island, NY)
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Monmouth University. 100 000 010 - 2 6 2 (19-22-1, 11-6 NEC)
Wagner College...... 103 020 00X - 6 8 0 (13-23, 7-9 NEC)
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Pitchers: Monmouth University - Apicelli; Grande(6). Wagner College - Crowley; Kostic(5); Bailey(8); McTamney(9).
Win-Kostic(2-1) Loss-Apicelli(2-2) T-2:22 A-91
HR MU - Kelly (2). HR WAGNER - Dick (4); Papa (2).



www.monmouth.edu/athletics