WEST LONG BRANCH, New Jersey – The Marist baseball team (10-16, 1-2 MAAC) hits the road again this weekend to take on Monmouth University (11-14-1, 2-1 MAAC) in a three-game series on April 6-7. The teams will play a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at noon, and then play the final game on Sunday at noon.
 

HOW TO FOLLOW

• Twitter - @Marist_BSB
• Live Stats – Provided courtesy of Monmouthhawks.com
• Game three will be streamed on ESPN3 with Eddy Occhipinti, Leo Barbalinardo and Suzi Mellano on the call.

LAST TIME OUT

• The Red Foxes lost their home opener on Tuesday, April 2. They fell to the University at Albany 10-2.
• Marist got out to an early 2-0 lead in the game, but gave up 10 combined runs in the 7^th and 9^th innings.
• Niko Amory has now hit safely in three consecutive games. In those three games, he has four hits, two runs scored, three RBIs, and is 2-2 in stolen base attempts.
• Gene Napolitano reached base safely three times against Albany, and has now reached base safely in three straight games.  He has already set careers highs this year in runs (nine), homers (two), RBIs (19), and stolen bases (five).
• As a team, Marist leads the MAAC with a .281 batting average, .399 slugging percentage, 244 hits, 17 homers, and 347 total bases.

ZANE'S BREAKOUT

Zane Kmietek has been used mostly in relief his freshman season, but he made the second start of his career on Tuesday, which wound up being a breakout performance. He threw five scoreless innings and allowed just two baserunners while adding three strikeouts. He left the game after building 2-0 lead, and was in line for the win at the time of his exit.

"After [Tuesday] I feel I accomplished some things that I have been working on, but need to put some more time in in other areas because there is always room to improve. For myself I was content with the outing, but a team win is more important than my individual performance so that's always the main objective. I've been working a lot with some different pitches, on my mechanics and trying to create good habits on the mound."

With Tuesday's performance, Kmietek lowered his season ERA to 3.32 and lowered his opponent's batting average to .253. He has now pitched a total of 19 innings on the season, allowing just 19 hits. He has accumulated 12 strikeouts while walking 13 batters. He hopes to ride this momentum into the weekend series against Monmouth.

"As for this weekend, I think the team's mindset is the same as it has been the entire year; to compete and win a series. I think if we play the way we've shown we can and keep our focus and energy level high, we should come out of this weekend with a few wins."
 

ABOUT MONMOUTH

• The Hawks are 11-14-1 so far this season, which includes a 3-2 mark at home.
• Monmouth began the season slow, losing nine of its first 10 games. However, the Hawks are riding a hot streak coming into the series with Marist, having won in four of their last five outings.
• Last time out, they defeated Princeton 11-6.
• JD Andreessen leads the Hawks in batting average (.359), homers (3), hits (37), total bases (56), and doubles (10).
• Dan Klepchick leads the pitching staff in innings pitched so far with 36.1. He owns a 3-2 record with a 4.46 ERA on the year, and has struck out 30 batters while walking just six. 

COACHES OUTLOOK

  "This is a weekend that I think we can use as a measuring stick as to where we are with our progress and growth," stated head coach Chris Tracz. "Monmouth is always talented and very well-prepared. We need to meet this weekend with intensity and focus, and fight for quality innings and at-bats.
 

UP NEXT

The Red Foxes take another break from MAAC play to travel to face the University of Hartford (9-14) for one game on Wednesday, April 10. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.