Fredericksburg, VA – The Montclair State baseball team closed out their opening weekend with a four-game split against Mary Washington University following a 3-1 loss on Sunday at Dickinson Stadium.

The Eagles evened their record at 3-3 scoring a pair of eighth-inning runs to snap a 1-1 tie. Montclair fell to 2-2.

gained the lead in the second inning, as catcher Kevin France led off with a double, and came home on a single from Garrett Lyons. The Red Hawks tied the score with a run in the third. CHRIS ROTH led off the inning with a double to right center and scored when catcher JUSTIN BATES, who had two of MSU's six hits in the contest, singled to right field knotting the contest at 1-1 until the eighth.

First baseman Stephen Johnston led off with a walk, and moved to second on a single from Christian Hague. After France lined out on a diving grab by the center fielder, Montclair State went to the bullpen, and the Eagles countered by bunting the runners to second and third. Lyons' slow roller turned into an RBI single to put the Eagles ahead, and Mark Smit followed with a shot to third that resulted in another infield hit and RBI.

Junior Joe Thompson gained the win, after pitching the eighth and ninth, allowing a hit in each frame and striking out two. Cole Gabriele started for UMW and allowed one run on four hits in five innings, and Robert Cross pitched two scoreless frames as well.

TYLER HIGGINS (0-1) took the loss for Montclair State. ANTHONY DEBLASIO went the first five innings allowed a run and three hits. He struck out four and walked one. MICHAEL MATARAZZO threw 1 2/3 innings of scoreless relief giving up a pair of hits.

The Red Hawks are back in action on Saturday, March 3 as it heads to Florida for the RussMatt Invitational. Montclair opens its seven-game schedule against Penn State Altoona in a doubleheader beginning at 9:30 am.