MERION STATION, Pa. - The Saint Joseph's baseball team reached the 25-win plateau for the fourth time in the past five seasons and the fifth time in program history on Wednesday as the Hawks routed Monmouth, 14-2, at Smithson Field.

Saint Joseph's (25-19) jumped all over Monmouth starter Joe Molettiere, plating six runs in the bottom of the first.  Marc Giacalone, Deon Stafford, Jr., and Charlie Coghlin all singled to load the bases for Charlie Concannon, who singled in Giacalone to give the Hawks the early lead.  After a fielder's choice by Matt Maul scored Stafford, Cal Jadacki's double to left center scored two more and doubled the SJU lead.  Brian Lau then stepped in and crushed the first pitch he saw over the fence in left to give the Crimson and Gray a 6-0 lead.

Monmouth (26-22) threatened in the second, putting runners on second and third with nobody out, but Ryan Otero fanned Clay Koniencki and Brad Rhoads looking before retiring Justin Trochiano on a groundout to second to escape the jam.

The visitors did break through in the third, however, after an infield single by Grant Lamberton and a home run by Pete Papcun cut the lead to 6-2.

SJU answered in the bottom of the fourth, as a ground-rule double by Concannon scored Brue before Maul reached on an error that brought home Coghlin to restore the six-run margin.

Lau drew a bases loaded walk with one out in the sixth to bring in a run before a bases-loaded triple by Giacalone ran the advantage to 12-2 before a wild pitch made it a 13-2 game.

Dominic Cuoci hit a two-out solo home run in the bottom of the eighth to provide the game's final run and SJU its second consecutive 14-2 victory.

Ryan Otero improved to 2-3 on the season, allowing two runs on four hits in four innings.  Molettiere was charged with six runs on eight hits in three innings to take the loss.

Saint Joseph's returns to Smithson Field on Friday to kick off a key conference series with Fordham.  First pitch is set for 3:00 p.m.