FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 10, 2001

MONMOUTH FALLS DESPITE TOTH’S 3 HOME RUNS

West Long Branch, N.J. – The Monmouth Hawks fell to Marist College 8-7, despite three home runs from senior first baseman, Jeff Toth.  Toth who went 3-4 with five RBIs on the afternoon hit home runs in three consecutive at-bats.  The loss drops Monmouth’s record to 11-17, while Marist improves to 19-8-1.

Monmouth scored first in the third inning as Mike Kelly (2-4) had a lead-off triple.  He was driven in by Ian Magley’s sacrifice.  In the fourth, Toth hit his first home run, a solo shot to center field.

Marist tied the score in the fifth inning as Pete Kruger led off with a home run.  Spike Ridgley then bunted and advanced to third on a throwing error by the pitcher.  He was singled in by Ryan Brady.  The starting pitcher, Jim Carone, who did not figure in the decision, went six innings, allowing five runs on nine hits.  The next two Marist runs came in the sixth inning.  Two Monmouth errors proved costly in the inning as Marist took a 4-2 lead.

In the sixth, Jay Law (3-5) led off with a double and was driven in by Toth’s second home run.  The Hawks were unable to push anyone else across as they stranded two runners.

Brian Gismonde came in to pitch in the seventh for Monmouth, allowing one run which was charged to Carone.  Brady started the inning with a bunt sinlge off of Carone and later scored after Gismonde had entered.  The Hawks came back strong in the bottom of the seventh as Lance Koenig reached on an error and stole second base.  Law doubled, driving in Koenig from second.  Toth then connected on his third home run and his fourth and fifth RBIs, making the score 7-5.

In the eighth, Jimmy Willis singled and advanced to third on Kruger’s double.  Ridgley was then hit by a pitch to load the bases.  Steve O’Sullivan flew out to center field, driving in Willis.  Brady then walked to re-load the bases.  Tim Bittner connected with a two-run double, putting Marist back in front 8-7.

Monmouth sent three batters to the plate in the eighth and all three were retired by Mark Norton, who had come in the game in the sixth inning.  Kelly took the mound in the ninth for Monmouth and retired all three batters he faced as well.

Brad Cook came on to close the game for Marist as he shut down the Hawks, while allowing a single to Law and walking Toth.  Paul Grasso (2-5) grounded out to end the game.  Gismonde took the loss for Monmouth, dropping his record to 0-2.  Norton (3-1) got the win for Marist, while Cook picked up his fifth save.

Monmouth returns to action tomorrow as they travel to Princeton, N.J. to take on the Tigers.