Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Monmouth made the most of one hit in a 2-1 opening game win at MacMurray Sunday afternoon, but came up just short of a successful late rally in a 6-4 loss in the nightcap.

The Scots scored first without the aid of a hit in Game 1 when Ryan Sparks led off the game with a walk and moved to third on an error and a passed ball. Sparks then raced home on Bryson Sheppard's groundout to stake Monmouth to a 1-0 lead. A leadoff walk to Austin Hardy in the sixth set the stage for an insurance run as Hardy moved to second on a Sheppard hit and advanced to third on Grant Myers' sac bunt. Jake Starkey followed by lofting a sac fly to left, scoring Hardy for the only runs starter Tyler McDonald would need to post the win in a seven-inning, seven strikeout performance. McDonald surrendered just one unearned run in the sixth and pitched out of jams in the first two innings and worked around a two-on error in the seventh to even his record at 1-1.

Monmouth picked up four hits, including two homeruns in the nightcap, but lost the slugging battle when three homers were among the Highlanders' eight hits. Starting pitcher Austin Hardy gave himself a quick 1-0 lead in the first inning when he slammed a solo homer. MacMurray countered with their own solo shot in the second to tie the game and then added a two-run shot in the third to take the lead. A two-run blast in the fourth gave the Highlanders all the runs they would need to hold off the Scots in the late innings.

Trailing 6-1 in the eighth, the Scots took advantage of an error and with two on and one out, Zach VanWassenove's three-run shot closed the gap to 6-4. MacMurray shut the door by fanning three of the Scots' final five batters in the game.

Monmouth will host Aurora Wednesday at 2 p.m. in the Scots' home opener.