LaVerne, CA  – Junior ROB BOWNESS belted a two-run homer, however, it wasn't enought as the Montclair State baseball team (2-2 overall) fell to 0-2 on their West Coast trip with an 8-6 loss at University of LaVerne on Sunday afternoon.

The Red Hawks jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top half of the first. DANNY RODRIGUEZ singled and went to second on an error. SCOTT EVANGELIST then reached on an error moving Rodriguez to third before BRIAN BUTLER stroked and RBI single for a 1-0 lead. ANDREW VICARO then laid down a bunt single that brought home Evangelist with the second run.

However, LaVerne came back with two runs of their own and the Leopards took the lead for good with three runs in the second. MSU would get back within 5-4 in the third as Bowness smacked his first career home run.

The Leopards would extend the lead in the fourth with a run and then added two more in the sixth to take an 8-4 advantage.

Montclair State would cut the lead in the seventh as Evangelist and Butler each singled. Evangelist moved to third on a fielder's choice and scored on a wild pitch. MSU pulled closer in the eighth as MICHAEL NUNES delivered and RBI single, however the Red Hawks could not get any closer.

TIM STRINGER (0-1) took the loss for Montclair State.

Rodriguez, Butler and Nunes each had two hits for MSU, which collected 11 in the contest.

The Red Hawks are off until Tuesday, March 14 when they face University of Redlands at 5:30 pm EST.