Scranton, PA – The Montclair State baseball team exploded for double-digit run totals including a pair of double-digit scoring innings as the Red Hawks opened their 2019 season with wins over University of Scranton and Misericordia University on Sunday.
Junior
JOE NORTON had six hits, including the first home run of his career, and drove in five RBI as the Red Hawks topped Scranton 16-10 in the first game before downing Misericordia, 16-8.
Scranton took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the third however Montclair exploded for 11 runs in the top of the fourth inning as it sent 15 batters to the plate. Norton led off with a triple and scored on a
BRODY LABBE double down the left field line.
PETER COSENTINO added an RBI double tying the game and a
DANIEL CLEMENTE double gave MSU a 3-2 advantage.
ANDREW OLLWERTHER drove I two more with a double and a
JASON MOORE RBI single put the Red Hawks in front 6-2.
Norton's second hit of the inning produced another run before Cosentino walked with the bases loaded making the score 8-2. Norton scampered home with the ninth run on a wild pitch before
NICK MARTINEZ doubled home the final two runs for an 11-2 lead.
The Royals tallied the next three runs however MSU answered that with four runs in the sixth for a 15-5 lead. Clemente and Moore each collected RBI singles with Ollwerther driving in two more with a double.
Freshman lefthander
DONALD GONNELLI (1-0) picked up the victory in relief striking out four in three innings of work.
JUSTIN SILVA closed out the game with 1 2/3 scoreless innings. Norton finished 3-for-4 at the plate for Montclair, which recorded 15 hits in the game. Ollwerther and Moore had two hits apiece.
MSU found itself down 2-1 before erupting for 10 runs in the top of the third inning. Martinez tied the game with an RBI double and Clemente scored on a wild pitch giving MSU the lead.
JUSTIN BATES plated a run with a fielder's choice and a
HAYDEN REYES infield single pushed the lead to 5-2. Norton followed with a three-run homer for a 9-2 lead. Clemente and Martinez each had an RBI to cap the inning.
Misericordia (2-2) answered with two runs in its half of the third. Norton got one back for Montclair in the fourth and RBIs by Clemete, Martinex and Ollwerther in the eighth widened the Red Hawks' lead to 15-5.
JONATHAN ANDERSON (1-0) picked up the victory in relief as he went four innigs allowing three runs and six hits with three strikeouts.
TYLER HIGGINS struck out the side in the ninth inning to finish off the victory.
Norton finished 3-for-5 with four runs scored for MSU, which had 15 hits in the win. Clemente and Martinez also had three hits apiece with Cosentino and Reyes collecting two each.
The Red Hawks are scheduled to play their home opener at Yogi Berra Stadium on Wednesday, February 27 hosting Lehman College at 3:30 pm.
