Wilmington, DE - Sophomore catcher
NATE KOPP (Dallastown, PA/Dallastown) drove in a run with a sacrifice fly to highlight a four-run eighth inning as Montclair State edged Wilmington (DE), 9-8, in NCAA baseball action on Wednesday afternoon.
Junior rightfielder
ETHAN BOYD (Perth Amboy, NJ/Perth Amboy) drove in a pair of runs as Montclair State (5-4) moved back over the .500 mark with the victory.
Pete Henyan had a solo home run and Tom Gallagher had three RBI for the Wildcats (7-9), who led 8-5 heading into the eighth inning.
MIKE HALLIGAN (Pompton Plains, NJ/Seton Hall Prep), who went 3-for-5, led off the inning with a single and
MARC DECASTRO (Haddon Heights, NJ/Paul VI) walked before Boyd was hit by a pitch to load the bases. PJ Baccarella (Bayonne, NJ/Bayonne) drew a walk to force in a run and DeCastro scored on a wild pitch to make the score 8-7. Kopp then tied the game as he drove in Boyd with the sacrifice fly. Baccarella then put MSU in front as he came around to score on an infield error.
In the ninth, Wilmington threatend as it put runners on with two outs, however, reliever
ALEX THOMPSON (Whippany, NJ/Whippany) got Derek Pugh to fly out on his first pitch to earn his first save.
JAIRO MENDEZ (Kearny, NJ/Kearny) earned the victory in relief as he retired the final two batters in the seventh. Mendez is now 2-0 on the season.
MSU took a 1-0 lead in the first as Boyd drove in a run with a ground out, but Wilmington tied it in their half of the inning as Henyan belted a solo shot.
JAY COOK (Westfield, NJ/Westfield) scored on an error for a 2-1 Red Hawk advantage in the second, however, the Wildcats responded again as they scored two runs in the third.
The Wilmington lead was 5-3 heading into the sixth before Montclair would tied the game again.
BRETT PICARO (Westfield, NJ/Westfield) plated a run with a ground out and Boyd laced an RBI double down the right field line to score Halligan.
The Red Hawks return to action on Saturday, March 27 as they open their 2004 home schedule with a 2:00 pm contest against Rensselaer at Yogi Berra Stadium. MSU will also face RPI in a doubleheader on Sunday, March 28 beginning at 11:30 am.
