Ferrum, VA – Freshman outfielder MICHAEL SCHWEYHER had three hits and three RBI in Game 2 helping Montclair State earn a split of its doubleheader at Ferrum College on Friday afternoon.
Senior shortstop HAYDEN REYES had three hits and PETER COSENTINO collected a pair of RBI as the Red Hawks (3-2) held off the Panthers for a 10-9 victory in the second contest. Ferrum (7-4) took the opener 11-1.
After dropping the opener, MSU grabbed a 1-0 lead in the second game as JOE NORTON scored on a passed ball in the top of the first inning. Ferrum responded with three in the bottom of the inning. Kyle Anstice had a two-run double, giving the hosts a 3-1 advantage.
Montclair State countered with a six-run top of the second to take the lead. MILES FEASTER plated the first run with a ground out, and a single by Reyes scored ANTHONY GUARINO tying the contest at 3-3. Cosentino put the Red Hawks in front with a two-run single before CHRISTOPHER WALKER's sacrifice fly made the score 6-3. Schweyher got the final run with an RBI single bringing in Cosentino.
Norton extended the lead to 8-3 in the third. However, Ferrum tallied three times in the fifth to trim the deficit to 8-6. Schweyher's two-run single in the sixth pushed the lead to 10-6, but the Panthers pulled within a run in the eight as Josh Greenway's sac fly made it a 10-9 contest.
That would be as close as Ferrum would get as junior reliever JUSTIN SILVA came out of the bullpen retiring the Panthers 1-2-3 in the ninth to preserve the victory. It was the first save of the season for Silva.
NICHOLAS SEFICK (1-0) earned the victory in relief. Norton and Cosentino finished with three and two hits respectively for MSU as the Red Hawks registered 14 in the game.
Ferrum scored the first five runs in Game 1 as Greenway blasted a two-run homer in the first inning. Schweyher's RBI fielder's choice got MSU on the board in the fourth, however, Isaac Yeaman homered in the fourth, and Ozzie Torres belted a two-run homer the following inning extending the Panthers' lead to 8-1.
Lefty Drew Calohan (3-0) went the distance allowing a run and five hits with six strikeouts. PATRICK CUCCURULLO (0-1) took the loss for Montclair State.
The two teams continue their four-game weekend series on Saturday, February 29, with a single contest beginning at 1:00 pm. The series then wraps up on Sunday, March 1, at 1:00 pm.
