The Monmouth Hawks defeated North Carolina A&T 14-4 in a seven-inning contest on Friday, pulling away in the final frame to secure the win.
A five-run seventh inning not only produced the decisive margin but also invoked the mercy rule, ending the game early and allowing the Hawks to walk off the field with a comfortable victory.
Offensive Highlights
The offensive surge was led by Chris Walsh, Wyatt Hunt and Jimmy Bruno, each of whom drove in three runs, while Ryan Mealy earned the win on the mound for Monmouth.
North Carolina A&T answered with a two-run homer from Reginald Tuggle III in the second inning and added key hits from Bruce Wyche and Andrew Tinsley, but could not close the gap.
Tournament Outlook
Starter Joshau Hauser took the loss for the Hawks, while relievers from the Monmouth staff kept the Aggies at bay for the remainder of the game.
The victory guarantees Monmouth a spot in the 2026 Coastal Athletic Association Baseball Championship Tournament, even as the Aggies slip to 13-37 overall and 4-24 in conference play.
Game 2 of the series is scheduled for 2 p.m. Friday at MU Baseball Field, giving both teams a chance to even the series before the tournament begins.