La Roche was able to sweep on opening day with victories of 6-3 and 6-4 against Monmouth College. Timely hitting and phenomenal pitching was the name of the game for the Redhawks.
In Game 1 the scoring got started in the top of the 2nd when Dylan Urban reached on an error. Jonathan Melendez then executed a hit and run, putting himself on first and Urban on third. Elmo Trickett then got the scoring started for the year with a single up the middle. Jay Novak came through with a single through the right side scoring Melendez. With 2 outs, Jonathan Spina was able to get a hold of a ball and put it over the right fielders head, scoring Novak and Trickett and putting the Redhawks up 4-0.
The Redhawks put up 2 runs in the 3rd when Professori and Urban hit back to back singles and a Melendez ground out extended the Redhawks lead to 5-0. Urban scored on a passed ball and the Redhawks ended the top of the 3rd up 6-0. Monmouth was able to get 3 runs in the bottom of the 3rd after a flurry of Redhawk errors.
Shane Emrich shut the door in the bottom of the 7th, striking out 2 and the Redhawks won Game 1 by a score of 6-3. Tre Thomas threw four innings to earn the win. He gave up just 1 hit and no earned runs, and struck out 8. Josh Kuderian came in and gave 2 solid innings of work, striking out 4 ,and Emerich got the save. Jay Novak finished 2 for 2.
In Game 2, La Roche jumped on Monmouth straight from the start. After Alex Tesla put up a scoreless frame in the top of the 1st, Urban once again started the momentum. He singled through a right side, stole second and then scored on a Shane Roebuck double. A Novak singled scored Roebuck, and Angel Morales followed with an RBI single giving the Redhawks a 3-0 lead after 1 inning of play.
Monmouth picked up 2 runs in the top of the 3rd and 1 in the top of the 4th, but La Roche was able to respond in the bottom of the 4th. Gino Quahliero got it started with a double. After a double steal put runners on second and third, Spina hit a fly ball deep enough to get Quahliero in and La Roche had the lead back 4-3. An Urban single scored Hoffman, and then a couple plays later with Professori on 1st and Urban on 3rd, Professori stole 2nd and Urban scored on the throw making the score 6-3.
Monmouth put up 1 in the top of the 6th, but once again Emrich camed in and shut the door with 2 strikeouts.
Alex Tesla picked up the win, going 4 innings, giving up 3 runs and 3 hits. Chris Hanlon gave up a run and struck out 2 in 2 innings, and once again Emerich picked up the save.
La Roche is back in action tomorrow and will take take on Drew University in a double header at 10 am and 1 pm. Both games can be seen on the LRC Sports Network. Urban and Novak went 2 for 3 in Game 2. Novak went 4 for 5 on the day.