Myrtle Beach, SC – Senior first baseman
PETER COSENTINO homered twice and drove in a combined seven runs as Montclair State swept Eastern Nazarene College at the Ripken Experience on Wednesday.
The Red Hawks (9-3) battled back in the opener for a 9-8 victory before slugging its way to a 15-6 triumph in the second game that was delayed at one point due to lightning.
Cosentino gave Montclair State a 2-0 lead in the first with a two-run shot. Steven Pesce answered with a home run in the bottom of the inning for the Lions cutting the deficit in half.
MILES FEASTER extended the lead to 3-1 in the second, but again Eastern Nazarene countered in its half. Luis Pina collected an RBI single to bring the Lions within a run.
Cosentino's second two-run shot pushed the lead back out to 5-2 in the third innings But again the Eastern Nazarene responded this time with a four-run fourth inning to take the lead. Hemhy Lara's lead off homer in the fifth gave ENC a 7-5 advantage.
MSU would put together a four-run sixth inning to regain the lead. Norton singled in the first run with Jurkiewicz tying the game at 7-7 on an RBI single. Murphy delivered the biggest blow, a two-run single as Montclair State went in front 9-7.
Righthander
JACK HAVESON came on in the bottom of the sixth and struck out the side, but not before the Lions got within 9-8 after A Jimenez homered to left field. But Haveson would not let Eastern Nazarene get any closer as he retired the side in order in the ninth to earn his first save.
MATTHEW TIPLADY (1-0) would get the victory in relief. Cosentino, Jurkiewicz, Murphy,
SAM ANGELO and Miles Fester had two hits apiece.
In the second game, Montclair led 2-1 in the third inning when the game was delayed. Following the stoppage, MSU pounded out 11 runs.
JASON MOORE walked with the bases loaded for the first run and Cosentino laced a two-run double for a 7-1 lead. Moore made it four RBI in the inning with a three-run triple with Feaster knocking home the final run on a double as the Red Hawks led, 13-1.
Freshman
JACOB DEMBIN got the victory as he improved to 2-0. Senior
DARREN GONZALEZ closed out the game striking out five in the final two innings. Feaster and Cosentino had two hit apiece.
The Red Hawks now return home to Yogi Berra Stadium for the first time this season on Friday, March 11. Montclair State hosts Trinity (CT) College at 3:00 pm in the first of a three-game series. The teams will meet again on Monday, March 14 with a doubleheader in Hartford, CT.
