Baseball Falls to Monmouth, 8-5

VERO BEACH, Fla. -- The Bridgewater State University baseball team dropped an 8-5 decision to Monmouth College on Monday afternoon in Vero Beach, Florida.

The Fighting Scots improved to 2-2 on the young season with the win, while the Bears slipped to 2-1.

Monmouth erupted for six runs over the first three innings to jump out to an early 6-1 lead.

An RBI double by Bryson Sheppard opened the scoring for the Fighting Scots in the top of the first. The Bears answered with a run in the bottom of the frame as Ryan Feeney doubled with two outs and came around to score on an RBI single by Reed Pike.

Back-to-back doubles by Matt Mullen and Zach VanWassenhove started a three-run rally in the third. Ryan Sparks added a two-run single in the frame to give Monmouth a 4-1 advantage.

VanWassenhove belted a two-run home run in the top of the third to extend the lead to 6-1.

The Bears cut the deficit to 6-2 in the bottom of the fourth as Anthony Licciardello singled, moved to third on a Devin Sanders' base hit and came around to score on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Scott O'Brien.

The Fighting Scots, however, got the run right back as Sheppard blasted a solo home run to lead off the fifth. Mullen added an RBI single in the seventh to make it an 8-2 game.

O'Brien closed out the scoring with a three-run homer in the bottom of the ninth to account for the final tally of 8-5. The homer marked the first for O'Brien in a BSU uniform.

Brandon Harroun picked up the win on the mound for Monmouth, Harroun (1-0) gave up three runs on seven hits over eight innings. He walked two and fanned four.

Ryan Hayward (0-1) gave up six runs on seven hits over the first three innings in the setback for the Bears. Colin Josselyn and Kevin Bresciani worked the final six innings as they were both making their BSU debut. Josselyn gave up two runs on four hits over four innings with four strikeouts, while Bresciani hurled two scoreless innings.

Sparks (2-for-4), Sheppard (2-for-4), Mullen (2-for-4), VanWassenhove (2-for-4) and Austin Hardy (2-for-5) all finished with two hits apiece to lead the Fighting Scots' 11-hit attack. VanWassenhove scored two runs and drove in three, while Sparks finished with two runs and two RBI.

O'Brien went 2-for-4 with a run and four RBI to highlight the Bridgewater State offense. Sanders (2-for-4) was the only other Bear with multiple hits.

Bridgewater State returns to the diamond on Tuesday afternoon as the Bears take on Lebanon Valley College. Game one of the doubleheader is scheduled to start at noon.