Center Valley, PA – Shortstop Cody Mish walked with the bases loaded in the bottom of the 16^th inning as DeSales University outlasted Montclair State 8-7 on Tuesday evening.

The free pass ended the marathon contest which lasted 5 hours, 32 minutes and matched the longest game in MSU history matching the record set in 1976 against Glassboro State (now Rowan) and duplicated 11 years later versus Upsala College during the 1987 NCAA Division III Regional Tournament at Pittser Field.

Junior second baseman JOE NORTON went 4-for-7 and drove in a run for the Red Hawks (10-13), who held a one-run lead before allowing the Bulldogs (12-13) to tie the game in the bottom of the ninth. Montclair has dropped five straight.  Norton was one of four players to tie the single-game record for at bats in a game. DOMINICK LEUIZZI, BRAD EDWARDS and KYLE FORCINI also had seven at bats.

MSU trailed 6-5 heading into the top of the ninth but managed to get across a pair of runs. CHRISTOPHER CORVIL scampered home on a wild pitch to tie the game at 6-6 before another wild pitch allowed pinch-runner ROB LOMBARDO to cross the plate putting the Red Hawks up by one.

DeSales would deadlock the game again in its half of the ninth using a hit and three walks. Aaron Fritz collected the tying RBI as he drew the third one with the bases loaded.

It was all zeroes on the scoreboard from that point until the bottom of the 16^th inning. Fran Licari, Jr. lofted a deep fly ball to right field that was dropped allowing the runner to get to third with no outs. Fritz walked and MSU intentionally walked Nick White to load the bases. Mish took four pitches out of the strike zone to force in the game-winning run.

Felix Martinez, Jr. earned the win for DeSales pitching seven scoreless innings in relief allowing five hits with four strikeouts. BRANDON ISTVAN (0-1) took the loss for Montclair State.

The marathon affair, which ended just after 10:30 pm, gives MSU a quick turnaround for Tuesday as it hosts Drew University at 3:30 pm.