Montclair, NJ – The Montclair State University baseball team opens New Jersey Athletic Conference play on Saturday as it travels to face Ramapo College.

GAME INFO
First pitch from Mahwah, NJ is scheduled for 11:30 AM and 2:30 PM, with live stats and video links available on montclairathletics.com.

LAST TIME OUT
Montclair surged past DeSales 14-6 on Tuesday, March 26 at Yogi Berra Stadium. The Red Hawks jumped out to a 3-0 lead after one inning on a home run from SAM ANGELO and a wild pitch that scored MATT SHUHET. DeSales plated four runs over the next two frames to take the lead, but Montclair answered immediately with two more in the third to reclaim the advantage. The Red Hawks broke the game open in the fourth, as Angelo doubled to center field to drive in two runs. Shuhet reached on a dropped fly, scoring Angelo, and JASON MOORE singled through the left side to score Shuhet. A wild pitch later in the inning gave the home side its 10th run of the contest. Montclair outscored DeSales 3-2 over the remainder of the game to seal the victory, marking the fourth-straight season in which the Red Hawks have won 10 or more games at home.

TEAM LEADERS
MONTCLAIR STATE (17-3)
On-Base Percentage: Two Tied at .485
Hits: SAM ANGELO, 36
Doubles: Three Tied at 7
Runs: Two Tied at 24
Home Runs: SAM ANGELO, 12
RBI: SAM ANGELO, 36
Stolen Bases: REECE MALEK, 10
Innings Pitched: MICHAEL TIMBERLAKE, 28.2
Strikeouts: MICHAEL TIMBERLAKE, 34
 
RAMAPO (10-7)
On-Base Percentage: Jack Tallent, .527
Hits: John Higgins, 27
Doubles: John Higgins, 9
Runs: Zack Bailey, 23
Home Runs: Zack Bailey, 5
RBI: Zack Bailey, 19
Stolen Bases: Zack Bailey, 6
Innings Pitched: Jack Martin, 19.2
Strikeouts: James Pazdera, 22

SCOUTING RAMAPO
The Roadrunners enter NJAC play with a 10-7 mark and are winners of their last two contests. Ramapo opened their 2024 campaign with a 21-5 victory over Centenary, but dropped three of their next five. They amassed a 5-4 record at the Russ Matt Tournament, and have outscored Purchase and Vermont State Castleton 25-7 over their last two games. Ramapo recorded a 21-17 mark during the 2023 season and went 8-10 during NJAC play, narrowly missing out on postseason play due to tiebreakers. They were tabbed sixth in the 2024 NJAC Preseason Coaches Poll.

SERIES HISTORY
Montclair and Ramapo have met 120 times in their history, with the Red Hawks holding an 82-37-1 all-time mark against the Roadrunners. Ramapo has claimed 14 of the last 20 games between the two sides, but Montclair has won three of the last five within that stretch. The Red Hawks are 26-15-1 all-time on the road against the Roadrunners. Each team won on the opposing home field during the 2023 campaign .

LAST MEETING
The Red Hawks took down Ramapo 10-6 on April 7, 2023. After Ramapo took an early 1-0 lead after the first, Montclair broke through for three runs in the third on a wild pitch, an error, and a sacrifice fly. The Roadrunners dug into the lead with a run in the bottom of the third, but the Red Hawks responded with three more in the fourth. RYAN MCKENNA brought in a tally on a single, and SAM ANGELO hit into a fielder's choice that allowed McKenna to score. JASON MOORE hit an RBI double to cap off the surge. Montclair registered four-straight doubles in the sixth to extend the advantage to 9-2. Ramapo put up four runs in the remaining frames, but the Red Hawks sealed the road victory, with JACK HAVESON recording the save.

UP NEXT
The Red Hawks will host Stevens in their nonconference finale on Monday, April 1. First pitch from Yogi Berra Stadium is slated for 3:00 PM.