Atlantic City, N.J. (May 24, 2008)—NEC Tournament MVP Josh Vittek went 4-for-4 with a home run and a NEC Tournament record six RBI to pace Mount St. Mary’s to a 14-2 win over Monmouth in the NEC Championship game on Saturday afternoon. With the win, the Mount advances to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in school history.

Vittek was 4-for-4 with six RBI and four runs scored to pace the Mount to the win. Zach Helman added a 3-for-5 day with his first collegiate home run and a career-high five RBI in the win for the Mount as well. Ryan Murray went 3-for-5 with a home run and three RBI while Matt Eiden chipped in three hits in the victory.

Mount starter Craig Henson, who improved to 1-6 this season with the victory, walked a pair in the top of the first inning, but retired Nick Pulsonetti looking on a third strike to escape the inning without damage.

The Mount (21-32) came out swinging in the bottom of the first with back-to-back base hits from Eiden and Shane Eyler. Mount cleanup hitter Vittek then drove the ball off the wall in left center field for a two-run double to give the Mount an early 2-0 advantage. Right fielder Murray laced a single to center field to plate Vittek for a three-run advantage.

Mount St. Mary’s added to the lead with a pair of runs in the bottom of the third. Drew Counselman reached on an error, Vittek singled to left, and Kyle Kane had an infield hit to third to load the bases for for the Mountaineers. Freshman third baseman Helman followed with a two-run single to center field to push the Mount’s margin to 5-0.

The Hawks got on the scoreboard in the top of the fourth inning. Andy Meyers beat out a ground ball to first base for an infield hit to start the inning. With two outs, Chris Collazo singled on a hard hit ball that got past Mount shortstop Counselman. Shawn Teters followed by lacing a ball down the left field line for an RBI double to cut the Mount lead to 5-1. Henson, however, got Brett Holland to ground out to short to end the inning.

Monmouth (37-16) cut into the lead again in the fifth when Ryan Terry laced a line drive up the middle that Henson deflected into left field. Terry hustled out a double on the play. Meyers roped a line drive up the middle to score Terry to make the score 5-2.

Vittek continued his torrid hitting at the plate, lacing an RBI single in the bottom of the fifth to score Counselman, who singled to open the frame and moved to second on a wild pitch. After Vittek moved to second on a wild pitch, Murray roped a two-base hit off the left field fence to give the Mount a 7-2 advantage. Helman then blooped a single to right field to extend the Mount’s lead to six.

The Mount sealed the victory with a show of power in the bottom of the sixth inning. Vittek belted a three-run homer to left while Murray followed with a solo shot for a 12-2 Mount lead. It was the second time this tournament and fourth time this season that Vittek and Murray have connected for back-to-back home runs. Helman followed with a two-run shot to left field, the third home run of the inning by the Mountaineers, to make the score 14-2.

Vittek now has 19 home runs on the season and 43 for his Mount career. His four home runs in the NEC Tournament tied a tournament record while his 19 home runs break the NEC’s single-season mark set by Lou Denman of Long Island in 1995. Vittek’s six RBI in the game set a NEC Tournament single-game record while his 12 RBI are an NEC Tournament record.

Henson, who entered the game 0-6 with a 7.85 ERA, allowed two runs in six innings to earn the victory for the Mount. It was his first win for the Mountaineers since posting the victory in a 3-1 decision over Bowling Green on March 7, 2006. Max Brittenham pitched the final three innings, to earn his second save of the season.

Terry, Meyers and Teters each had three hits in the game for the Hawks.

Vittek was named the NEC Tournament Most Valuable Player after hitting .458 with eight runs scored, five home runs and 12 RBI in the tournament. The Mount’s Eiden, Murray and Mike Matta also earned spots on the All-Tournament team. Monmouth’s Kyle Higgins, Collazzo, Nick Pulsonetti and Meyers, along with Central Connecticut State’s Kyle Zarotney round out the All-Tournament squad.

The Mount will find out who and where it will be playing in the NCAA Regionals on Monday, May 26, when the brackets are announced live on ESPN. 

Game Notes...The Mount becomes the second team in NEC history to win the tournament coming out of the loser’s bracket, joining Central Connecticut State, who achieved the feat in 2004...The Mount has won four straight games, the first time this season the team has won four in a row...The Mount offense produced an NEC Tournament record 71 hits and 10 home runs in the Mount’s five games...The Mount had double figures in hits in each of the Mount’s five games of the NEC Tournament...After opening the season 0-15, the Mount is 21-17 over its past 38 games.