Barker’s Walk-Off Grand Slam Sends Monmouth to MAAC Baseball Championship Round
No. 2 Monmouth University vs. No. 7 Siena College
2021 MAAC Baseball Championship – Quarterfinal Round
MU Baseball Field | West Long Branch, NJ
Game 3 – Monmouth 6, Siena 4
Trailing by two runs in the bottom of the ninth inning, Monmouth University’s Alex Barker delivered the game-winning grand slam for the Hawks (24-11, 22-10 MAAC), as they defeated Siena College (15-24, 14-22 MAAC), 6-4, to clinch the final spot in the 2021 MAAC Baseball Championship Round.
A four-run second inning by Siena forced Monmouth to play from behind for the majority of the game, not getting on the scoreboard until a sixth-inning walk to Matt Graber with the bases loaded made it a 4-1 game. The Hawks would close the gap again in the seventh inning when a James Harmstead double scored Johnny Zega to make it a two-run game, 4-2.
Danny Long, coming in relief of starting pitcher Rob Hensey, successfully shut down the Siena offense for the remainder of the game to earn the victory. He gave up only one hit over 5 2/3 shutout innings while tallying three strikeouts.
Monmouth now advances to the MAAC Baseball Championship Round, where they will face third-seeded Rider University on Wednesday, May 26, at 3 p.m. All championship round games will be played at Fairfield University in Fairfield, CT, and will be broadcast on ESPN+.
Monmouth Notes – Game 3
- With his grand slam, Barker now has a team-leading eight home runs on the season.
- Jalen Jenkins finished the afternoon with a game-high three hits for Monmouth. Harmstead also had a multi-hit game, going 2-for-5.
- Monmouth led in hits over Siena, 9-6.
Siena Notes – Game 3
- Starting pitcher Brooks Knapek put in six innings of work for the Saints, allowing two runs on five hits and recording a game-high six strikeouts.
- Evan St. Claire started the offense for Siena with his two-run double in the second inning. His two RBI led the team for the afternoon.
- Tim Carroll and Donovan Montgomery each earned an RBI for Siena.
- Bryce Porter’s two hits were a team-high. Carrol, Montgomery, St. Claire, and Devan Kruzinski each got one hit.
2021 MAAC BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND SCHEDULE
Hosted by Fairfield University | Fairfield, CT
|
| Wednesday, May 26 |
Match-Up |
Time |
Network |
| Game #1 |
No. 1 Fairfield vs. No. 4 Canisius |
11:00 a.m. |
ESPN+ |
| Game #2 |
No. 2 Monmouth vs. No. 3 Rider |
3:00 p.m. |
ESPN+ |
|
|
|
|
| Thursday, May 27 |
|
|
|
| Game #3 |
Game 1 Loser vs. Game 2 Loser
(Elimination Game) |
11:00 a.m. |
ESPN+ |
| Game #4 |
Game 1 Winner vs. Game 2 Winner |
3:00 p.m. |
ESPN+ |
| |
|
|
|
| Friday, May 28 |
|
|
|
| Game #5 |
Game 4 Loser vs. Game 3 Winner
(Elimination Game) |
11:00 a.m. |
ESPN+ |
| Game #6 |
Game 4 Winner vs. Game 5 Winner |
3:00 p.m. |
ESPN+ |
| |
|
|
|
| Saturday, May 29 |
|
|
|
| Game #7 (If Necessary) |
Game 4 Winner vs. Game 5 Winner |
TBA |
ESPN+ |
The 2021 MAAC Baseball Championship continues with the Championship Round beginning on Wednesday, May 26. For more information on the 2021 MAAC Baseball Championship, visit
MAACSports.com/baseball.
About the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference:
With 11 institutions strongly bound by the sound principles of quality and integrity in academics and excellence in athletics, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) celebrates its 40
th year of competition during the 2020-21 academic year. Current conference members include: Canisius College, Fairfield University, Iona College, Manhattan College, Marist College, Monmouth University, Niagara University, Quinnipiac University, Rider University, Saint Peter’s University, and Siena College.