Little Falls, NJ  – Sophomore lefthander NICK RECCHIA struck out six batters over the final three innings and Montclair State scratched out three runs in the seventh as the Red Hawks downed Wilmington College (DE), 4-1, in MSU's home opener at Yogi BerraStadium on Thursday afternoon.

The Red Hawks collected just five hits but took advantage of nine walks and five wild pitches as they improved to 4-5-2 on the season. Wilmington dropped to 9-7 with the loss.

A pitchingd uel through the first six-plus innings, Montclair State took thelead in the bottom of the seventh. Pinch-hitter ROBERT CLARK singled to open the inning and DANNY RODRIGUEZ was hit by a pitch. SCOTT EVANGELIST then beat out a bunt to load the bases and MICHAEL NUNES walked to force in the go-ahead run. ROB BOWNESS lofted a sacrifice fly and THOMAS MEYER followed with one of his own as MSU took a 4-1 advantage.

Recchia (2-1) earned his second straight victory as he walked one in recording the final nine outs. Brian Davolos suffered the loss allowing the three runs in the seventh. Davolos pitched two innings, walking four and striking out one.

The Red Hawks broke a scoreless game in the fourth, pushing a run across the plate without the benefit of a hit. LouPolitan drew a two-out walk and a pair of wild pitched moved him to third. Jim Scelzo then lined a ball to second base that was misplayed allowing Politan to score with the first run.

Wilmington answered with a run in the top of the fifth. Andy Chunn reached on an error and went to second on an errant pickoff attempt. Gary Wright then singled to put runners at the corner before Chase Barnes looped a base hit to left-center tying the game at 1-1. Ron Berry sacrificed runners to second and third, but Montclair would get out of the jam as TIM STRINGER struck out the next hitter. Stringer would uncork a wild pitch however, catcher ANDREW VICARO madea perfect flip to Stringer at home plate to nail the runner forthe third out.

JAY COOK went the first three innings for MSU allowing only a two-out double to Derek Pugh . Cook struck out two and walked one. Stringer gave up four hits and one earned run in his three innings with four strikeouts. Wilmington starter Bob Kunz was solid allowing an unearned run and two hits in five innings.Kunz fanned two and walked five.

Evangelist was 2-for-5 for Montclair State.

Montclair State returns to action on Saturday as they host SUNY Cortland at Yogi Berra Stadium on Saturday, March 25 at 2:00 pm. Wilmington is back in action on Friday, March 24 as they face another Garden State foe - New Jersey Institute of Technology