Redlands, CA – The Montclair State baseball team punctuated its best West Coast trip in eight years as the Red Hawks exploded for a season high for runs in a 26-5 victory on Wednesday afternoon.

Sophomore right fielder CHRIS BARAN homered and drove in three runs as the Red Hawks completed their trip at 6-2-1. MSU pounded out 27 hits with junior third baseman CRAIG CONWAY leading the way going 4-for-5. Eight different players recorded multi-hit contests.

Sophomore shortstop BRIAN ELLERSON gave the Red Hawks a 1-0 lead in the second innings with a base hit with another coming home on a double play for the early two-run advantage.

The Red Hawks erupted for 10 runs in the third as it sent 14 batters to the plate and scored five times with two outs. Baran began the barrage with a two-run homer and Francia doubled in two more making the score 7-0. 

Catcher JEFF SCHRIBER added a two-run triple and a third RBI by Baran in the inning pushed the lead to 10-0. Conway and GEORGE GALLAGHER recorded the last two runs.

Redlands answered with five runs in its half of the third, however Montclair countered with six in the fourth inning. SEAN MORRISON tripled home two runs and Schriber singled in another. Conway and Gallagher also accounted for RBIs as MSU led 18-5.

Montclair State scored three more times in the seventh and finished it off with a five-run eighth. JUSTIN COOK doubled to drive in two runs and MICHAEL CLIFFORD added a two-run double as well.

Sophomore left hander COREY HAMMAN (1-0) took full advantage of the run support in earning his first victory of the season. Hamman went the first six innings allowing five runs and nine hits, striking out four. KEVIN RAKOWSKI-KUHLMAN and STEVE TRONGONE closed out the game with three scoreless innings and three strikeouts.

The Red Hawks return to New Jersey and will have a week off before taking on Allentown College in its home opener at Yogi Berra Stadium.