Port Charlotte, FL – The Montclair State baseball gave top-ranked Heidelberg University all it could handle for seven-plus innings before the Red Hawks dropped a 5-2 decision in its opener at the Snowbird Classic on Sunday morning.
Sophomore righthander Zach Brown (New Vernon, NJ / Morristown) tossed seven solid innings in a no-decision as MSU suffered its first loss of the season (2-1) while Heidelberg remained unbeaten at 7-0.
After setting down Heidelberg in its first four at bats, Montclair broke a scoreless tie in the bottom of the fourth innings.
ANDREW HIMMELFARB (Nyack, NY / Nyack) walked with one out and moved to third as
KEVIN BOND (Cedar Grove, NJ / Cedar Grove) singled through the right side with two out. Sophomore Matt Moreno (Park Ridge, NJ / Park Ridge) then smacked a base hit through the middle scoring Himmelfarb as the Red Hawks took a 1-0 lead.
The Red Hawks would add to the lead the following inning in almost identical fashion.
JASON CHESTERMAN (Bloomfield, NJ / Bloomfield) walked with one out and scored on a two-out single by
JAY BIONDE (Pompton Plains, NJ / Pequannock) as Montclair went up by two runs.
Meanwhile, Brown kept Heidelberg at bay, giving up a run and striking out eight batters through the first eight innings. He also pitched out of a mini jam in the seventh as he allowed a leadoff double before stranding the runner at third base.
Montclair had an opportunity to extend its lead in the bottom of the seventh putting the first two runners on. But a double play on a bunt attempt all but ended the rally and sparked Heidelberg, which would score four runs in the top of the eighth to take a 5-2 lead.
Reliever Andy Lowe would make that lead hold up as he retired all six batters he faced to pick up his third save of the year. Brian Koehl (2-0) got the win as he went the first seven innings allowing two runs and five hits, strikeout six and walking four.
JONATHAN TORREGROZA (Bound Brook, NJ / Immaculata) took the loss in relief (0-1).
Moreno had two of Montclair State's five hits in the game.
The Red Hawks continue action in the Snowbird Classic on Monday, March 14 as they battle 19th-ranked College of Wooster (OH) at 12:00 pm.
