Baseball | 3/5/2017 7:08:00 PM
Box Score Winter Haven, FL –
RYAN THIEME lofted a sacrifice fly to score the game-winning run in the bottom of the 11
th as Montclair State picked up their first win of the season with a 3-2 victory over Muskingum University in the RussMatt Invitational on Sunday.
The Red Hawks (1-3) rallied late with runs in the seventh and ninth to force extras against the Muskies (0-1).
PHILIP SCOTT scored
JOE FOOTE with an opposite-field single in the sixth, and
RICH BURNER brought Foote home again with a sacrifice fly in the season opener at Chain of Lakes Park.
AUSTIN MINTON threw seven innings of two-run ball for MSU, allowing two runs on seven hits and four strikeouts without walking a batter. The Montclair bullpen combined for four scoreless innings and did not allow a hit, with
ANTHONY DEBLASIO eventually tallying the victory.
Muskingum struck early with a run in the second when Austin DeVore singled and stole second, and was knocked in by a Nate Mejia single. The Muskies got on the board again in the fourth by way of an RBI groundout from catcher Michael Pagano that scored Brad Donathan. Montclair State was able to stop the damage at two, though, which enabled the eventual comeback win.
Muskies starter Darien Smith went 4.1 innings and allowed just one hit, but hit four batters and walked another three. He was relieved by Brandon Bush, who took the game into 8th. Patrick McGinty would take the eventual loss, falling to 0-1. DeBlasio improved to 1-1 with the win.
The Red Hawks are back in action on Monday, March 6 at the RussMatt Invitational with a doubleheader against Coe College beginning at 2:45 pm.
