BROOKLINE — The Huskies strode to a disappointing finish in the second game of their weekend series against Monmouth Friday afternoon. Despite an early lead and a handful of two-out rallies, Northeastern couldn’t claw its way back from a mid-game Monmouth push and trudged its way to an 8-6 loss.
“Put it on the list of bad losses for this year,” said head coach Mike Glavine. “We just can’t get out of our own way. Played one good game yesterday and then we throw that out there today, just handed the game away … I don’t know when we’re going to get over the hump but clearly not today.”
The opening frames set the theme for the game: some strong hitting, but runners left stranded on both sides. Northeastern was the first to take advantage of the runners aboard when the bottom of the order got going in the second inning.
It started off with a one-out single from Carter Bentley, and he advanced to third on a double from Charlie Criscola. With two runners in scoring position, Will Fosberg stepped up to the plate. The sophomore had only tallied one extra-base hit this season — a solo home run back on February 15 — but came in clutch with a well-placed double to the right field warning track to drive in two runs for Northeastern. Monmouth threatened to end the outing when Chris Walsh popped up for the second out of the frame, but the Huskies weren’t done just yet. Carmelo Musacchia stepped up with a single to center field to push the Huskies out to a 3-0 lead.
In the top of the fourth, Monmouth began its run to the top. Nick Lovarco got the Hawks’ gears turning with a solo shot, and Northeastern immediately responded with an RBI single of its own.
One frame later, and the Hawks upped the ante; this time, two runs — all Wyatt Hunt with an RBI double and then making his way to home plate on a Chris Walsh groundout — to Northeastern’s one — an AJ Aschettino double.
But it was the sixth inning that really did Northeastern in.
After a great start and coming into the game with a team-leading 2.87 ERA, starting pitcher Luc Rising had started to fumble with the uptick in the Monmouth offense. After giving up three earned runs through five innings, Rising loaded the bases on a trio of singles, no outs, and Glavine stepped out of the dugout to end his day.
From the bullpen, Matthew Sapienza stepped in in a tough spot, but he couldn’t stop the Hawks’ onslaught. With a single, a bases-loaded hit by pitch, and a pair of sacrifice flies, Monmouth came careening into the lead, Northeastern taking the outs where they could get one. By the time the dust had settled, Monmouth had leaped out in front 7-5.
Both teams had plenty more chances to score, but only picked up a measly one run apiece, each in the final frame.
But Northeastern’s final run came with a glimmer of hope. Down by three on one out, the Huskies had runners on the corners and Matt Brinker at the dish. Brinker made contact, steady but true, and Musacchia got the green light from the third, making the 90-foot dash to put Northeastern within two.
And two runners aboard meant the winning run was at the plate for Northeastern. But those runners also meant Monmouth’s defense had their fair share of options, and they squashed out the Huskies’ hopes with a pair of fielder’s choice hits to stifle the late-game rally to the tune of an 8-6 final score.
“Where are the guys that are gonna step up and just put four, five really good at bats together? It’s just not enough,” Glavine said. “Probably the most disappointing loss of the year.”
The struggles with runners in scoring position were what really bit Northeastern, and it’s been a theme this season for the Huskies. Although Monmouth left eight players stranded and Northeastern left nine, the timing played a huge role in the Hawks’ victory. With two outs, Northeastern was batting .429, but that dropped to .269 with runners on and .235 with runners in scoring position. Meanwhile, Monmouth was .412 with men aboard and .364 when they were in scoring position.
“We’re just not mature enough,” Glavine said. “We don’t know how to put two days together and you just see it… I can’t seem to get through to them or get them to string together good games. I’m at a loss right now, I’m not coaching this team well, and I’m frustrated.”
With the series even at one apiece, the final game will be a crucial one for these two squads fighting for position at the top of the CAA North. Monmouth currently holds the top spot, but Northeastern is within striking distance and a series win could bolster either team’s conference campaign.This matchup will return to Friedman Diamond Saturday at 1:00 p.m. with Max Schwartzberg and Amelia Ballingall live on the call on WRBB Sports+.
Amelia Ballingall is the Editor-in-Chief for WRBB Sports. She has been a writer and broadcaster with the organization since 2022, and is a color analyst for UConn women’s hockey on ESPN+. You can read more of her work here.