WEST LONG BEACH, N.J. – Monmouth University rallied with two runs in the bottom of the eighth inning for an 8-7 victory in Game 1, and fell victim to Maine right-hander Steve Richard’s nine strikeouts in a 2-0 loss in the nightcap in baseball action Saturday.

With Monmouth leading 5-2 in the fifth, Maine’s Ryan Quintal launched a two-run home run to right to cut the Hawks (4-8) lead to 5-4. The Black Bears (7-7) tied the score in the sixth behind Mike Ferriggi’s round-tripper to left field, just inside the foul pole.

Maine pounded out three hits to take a 7-6 lead with a two-run seventh, but the Hawks scored twice with two outs in the eighth on Cip Apicelli’s single to center.

In Game 2, Richard went the distance, allowing three hits and striking out nine for the shutout. Maine posted single runs in the second and sixth innings behind hits from Frank Pesanello and Joel Barrett.

One out later, freshman right fielder Pam Dreslinski, who was 3-for-3 in the game, beat out an infield single to second base. Next up, freshman Courtney Oliver secured a walk, and Kenney followed with a line drive single up the middle to score Dreslinski with the game-winning run.