Aberdeen, MD – The Montclair State University baseball team fell to Swarthmore 17-7 in the 2024 season opener on Friday afternoon at Ripken Experience.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Red Hawks (0-1) fell behind early as Swarthmore picked up a run in the top half of the first inning. After MARCUS JOHNSON led off the bottom of the first with a triple to left center, MILES FEASTER drove him home later in the frame with a double to right center.
• Swarthmore plated three more runs in the second behind two hits, and grew their lead to 5-1 in the top of the third.
• Montclair put up five in the bottom portion of the third to take the lead. With Johnson and Feaster on base, RYAN MCKENNA drove in two runs on a double to right center. ZACH STEARNS reached on a fielder's choice in the next at-bat, bringing home McKenna. Stearns scored after JASON MOORE reached on an error, and REECE MALEK plated the final run of the inning on a single to center field.
• After two scoreless innings, the Garnet put up four runs in three consecutive frames to take a 17-6 lead going into the bottom of the eighth. 
• Montclair brought in a run in the eighth on an error, but Swarthmore closed out the Red Hawks for the season opening victory.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Johnson finished with three hits and two runs in his Montclair debut.
• McKenna's two RBI led the way for the Red Hawks. The senior recorded his 100th hit for his Montclair career on the double in the third inning.
• SAM ANGELO tallied two hits in the contest.

FROM THE FIELD

"We need to clean up our defense and limit free chances as we move forward to have success. Tomorrow gives us another chance to do that." - Head Coach Dave Lorber

UP NEXT

The Red Hawks will remain in Maryland and take on Mount Aloysius on Saturday, February 24. First pitch from Ripken Experience is slated for 12:30 PM.