UMBC

Baltimore, MD ---The Monmouth Hawks (29-18, 22-3 NEC) clinched the #1 seed in next weekend's Northeast Conference Tournament with a doubleheader sweep over host UMBC (28-22, 19-7 NEC), Saturday afternoon at Alumni Field. The Hawks won the opener by a score of 5-3, and shutout the Retrievers, 6-0 in the nightcap.In game one, the Hawks broke a 3-3 tie with single runs in the sixth and seventh innings. Monmouth senior designated hitter Paul Grasso provided the game-winning hit, a solo-homer to left center field with one out in the sixth inning. The Hawks scored an insurance run in the seventh inning on a throwing error by Retrievers junior catcher Scott Kosmicky. UMBC trailed 3-1 entering the bottom of the fifth inning but tied the game on RBI singles by senior first baseman Greg Deboy and Kosmicky.Monmouth starter Jim Carone pitched 5.1 inning to improve to 9-3 on the season. Carone allowed three earned runs and scattered six hits, while walking four and striking out one batter. Enrique Genao and Mike Kelly (9th save) pitched the final 1.2 innings to nail down the win for Carone, who leads the NEC in victories. UMBC starter Joe Wilson fell to 8-3 after allowing three earned runs and ten hits in 7.0 innings of work.In game two, Hawks' sophomore lefty Andrew Palmieri pitched a complete-game, four-hit shutout to improve to 6-3.The Hawks scored five runs in the top of the third inning as they put together seven consecutive base hits, including a two-run double by first baseman Evan Clancy. Second baseman Lance Koenig, Grasso, and Kelly all added run scoring hits in the frame.UMBC freshman righty Zach Clark allowed five earned runs and 12 hits in 5.0 innings and fell to 6-5 on the season.The series will conclude with a single-game at 12:00 on Sunday afternoon at Alumni Field.- -