WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. – The Marist baseball team was defeated by Monmouth by a score of 4-1 in the finale of a three-game Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference series on Sunday.

Monmouth's Chris McKenna (2-1) pitched a complete game five-hitter to earn the victory. McKenna struck out three, and did not walk a batter.

A second-inning RBI single by Monmouth third baseman Robbie Alessandrine gave the Hawks a 1-0 lead. Marist rebounded to tie the game in the fourth. Sophomore center fielder Graham McIntire (Concord, N.H.) led off the inning by being hit with a pitch. He was sacrificed to second by senior third baseman Nick McQuail (Wantagh, N.Y.), advanced to third on a single by senior catcher Zachary Passerelle (Sparta, N.J.), and scored a on a sacrifice fly off the bat of junior first baseman Steve Laurino (Carle Place, N.Y.).

However, Monmouth answered with three runs in the bottom of the fifth to close out the scoring. In the innings, the Hawks had two hits, a stolen base, and were the beneficiaries of two Marist errors.

Junior left-hander Rich Vrana (Lindenhurst, N.Y.), who went the first 4.2 innings, took the loss and is now 0-4. Vrana was charged with all four Monmouth runs, three of which were unearned. He allowed five hits and one walk, and struck out two. Junior right-hander Evan Davis (Little Falls, N.Y.) came on in relief and finished out the game for the Red Foxes. In 3.1 innings, Davis struck out four and allowed just two hits and one walk.

For Monmouth, left fielder Joe Bamford and second baseman Jake Gronsky each had two hits and an RBI. Gronsky had an RBI double and a run scored in Monmouth's three-run fifth.

Marist is now 5-14 overall and 0-3 in the MAAC; Monmouth is 6-11 overall and 3-0 in the MAAC.

Marist is scheduled to return to action on Tuesday, when the Red Foxes head to Fordham for a non-conference game. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.