Whittier, CA – Senior pinch-hitter MARC HOUSER delivered a walk-off two-run double in the opener and junior center fielder FRANK LONGO added a three-run homer in the second game as Montclair State swept a pair of games in the California Invitational on Saturday.

Houser's heroics in the bottom of the ninth lifted MSU to a 13-12 win over host Whittier College while Longo's long ball was the difference in a 5-2 triumph over Wisconsin-LaCrosse. The Red Hawks have won three straight and improved to 3-1-1 on its West Coast trip.

Trailing 12-11 heading into its final at bat, Montclair rallied as DAVE WURST walked and went to second on a sacrifice by CHRIS BARAN. A fly ball got Wurst to third with two outs before Whittier intentionally walked GEORGE GALLAGHER. Pinch-runner GARY BRACHT stole second and SEAN MORRISON drew a free pass to load the bases. Houser was sent up and delivered in the clutch with a double to left giving MSU the victory.

Montclair State took a 4-0 lead in the first five innings, all on home runs. CHRIS BARAN belted a two-run shot in the first and Longo launched a solo shot in the second with Gallagher adding one in the fifth. After Whittier got a pair of runs in the sixth, Baran and Gallagher each had two-run singles in the bottom of the inning to give MSU an 8-2 lead.

Whittier answered with 10 straight runs, including six runs in the eighth for a 12-8 advantage. The Red Hawks were able to get back within a run scoring three times in their half of the eighth inning. SEAN MORRISON singled in the first run with BRIAN ELLERSON clocking a two-run homer making the score 12-11.

Right-hander KEVIN RAKOWSKI-KUHLMAN (1-0) got the victory in relief as he allowed just one hit with three strikeouts in recording the last five outs for Montclair State.

Baran (four RBI), Gallagher (three RBI) each had three hits along with DAVE WURST. Longo, JEFF SCHRIBER and Don Nelson each registered two hits.

Against Wisconsin-LaCrosse, Montclair found itself down 2-0 heading into the fifth inning before scoring all of its runs. CRAIG CONWAY doubled home the first run and Gallagher followed with a single to tie the game at 2-2. Longo then belted a three-run homer giving the Red Hawks their first lead at 5-2.

Junior righthander JIM WHALEN (1-0) got the victory as he allowed two runs and seven hits in five innings. Whalen struck out two and did not walk a batter.

Wurst was 3-for-3 with Longo and FRANK FRANCIA each recording two.