West Long Branch, N.J. (May 2, 2008)--Freshman Shane Eyler (Taneytown, Md./Francis Scott Key) blasted a grand slam in the top of the third inning to propel Mount St. Mary's (13-26, 9-7 NEC) to a 9-5 win over Northeast Conference leader Monmouth on Friday afternoon. The Mount belted three home runs in the game against the Hawks, who had won 27 of their past 29 games.

Monmouth struck first with a single run in the bottom of the first inning to take a 1-0 lead. The Mount answered in the top of the second inning when Josh Vittek (Eldersburg, Md./Liberty) walked, Eyler singled and freshman Zach Helman (Waynesboro, Pa./Waynesboro) doubled to plate Vittek with the game-tying run.

The Mount broke the game open in the top of the third on Eyler's grand slam. With two outs and no one on base, Drew Counselman (Sykesville, Md./Liberty) and Vittek recorded back-to-back singles before Ryan Murray (Enola, Pa./East Pennsboro) walked to load the bases. Eyler followed with a drive over the left field fence to give the Mount a 5-1 advantage.

Monmouth got back into the game with single runs in the bottom of the fourth and fifth innings off of Mount starter Max Brittenham (4-4). Ryan Terry had a sacrifice fly in the fourth while Shawn Teters chipped in a run-scoring single in the fifth for the Hawks (29-11, 14-3 NEC).

A three-run seventh produced an 8-3 lead for the Mount. Counselman reached on an error to lead off the inning and Vittek followed with a two-run blast to left field for his league-leading 13th home run of the season. The 13 home runs are the second-best single-season mark in Mount history behind Jeff Koenig's school record 16 set during the 2002 season. Murray and Helman added singles in the inning before Alex Andrews (Vienna, Va./James Madison) singled to bring home Murray for the 8-3 lead.

Nick Pulsonetti doubled home a run in the bottom of the eighth and later scored on a Chris Collazo single to cut the Mount lead to 8-5, but Murray sealed the win with a solo home run in the ninth for the 9-5 final. It was Murray's seventh home run of the season.

Vittek, Murray, Eyler, Helman and Andrews each had two hits in the game as the Mount pounded out 14 hits in the game. Brittenham allowed three runs in seven innings to earn the win while Matta allowed two runs in two innings of relief for the Mount. Brad Brach, who entered the game second in the NEC in ERA, allowed five runs in six innings to take the loss for Monmouth.

The teams return to action tomorrow with a noon doubleheader.