Newark, NJ – The #17/18 Montclair State University baseball team split a doubleheader with Rutgers-Newark that featured a combined 62 runs on Saturday afternoon.

The Red Hawks (26-9, 8-6 NJAC) fell 12-10 in the opener before taking game two 22-18.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Montclair took the lead in the first inning on a single through the right side by MARCUS JOHNSON to plate RYAN MCKENNA. After the Scarlet Raiders tied the game in the second, the Red Hawks reclaimed the advantage in the third on an RBI double from McKenna.
• The home side collected five runs over the next two frames to build a 6-2 lead. Montclair countered with five runs of their own in the top of the fifth, a run jump started by a sacrifice fly from McKenna. MICHAEL MURPHY, Johnson, and JOE GISONDA hit consecutive RBI doubles to level the score at six. JASON MOORE used a sacrifice fly later in the stanza to give the visitors the lead.
• Rutgers-Newark responded with three runs in the bottom of the fifth to reclaim the advantage, but a throwing error in the following stanza allowed the Red Hawks to even the score at nine. The Scarlet Raiders retook the lead in the bottom of the eighth with three tallies, and were able to claim the first game despite Montclair threatening in the ninth with an RBI single from REECE MALEK.
• Montclair broke game two open in the second inning with eight runs on six hits, kicked off by a groundout from JOEY NOLAN that plated Gisonda, and an RBI single from SAM ANGELO. After they brought in another run on a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch, the Red Hawks drove in three more runs on a single from Gisonda and a two-RBI double from Moore.
• The Scarlet Raiders climbed back over the next two frames, plating four runs in the second and three in the third to make it a one-run contest. After Angelo homered to left center to increase the lead to three in the fifth, Rutgers-Newark countered with five runs to claim their first advantage of the game.
• Rutgers-Newark added two more tallies in the bottom of the sixth, but the Red Hawks immediately answered the next inning, starting with an RBI double from McKenna. Murphy singled during the next at-bat to drive in two baserunners, and Moore drew a bases-loaded walk to tie the game at 14.
• The home side retook the lead in the seventh on a bases-loaded walk and an RBI single, but Montclair once again countered the next inning. Murphy reached on a fielder's choice to score a run, and MATT KALISKE singled during the next at-bat to bring in another tally. Following Kaliske's at-bat, Gisonda singled up the middle to drive in two and retake the lead. 
• With a runner on base in the bottom of the eighth, Rutgers-Newark used a double to drive in the game-tying run. The Red Hawks put together another strong offensive inning in the ninth, starting with Malek coming home on a wild pitch. After McKenna walked to put runners on first and second, Murphy tripled to right center to clear the bases, and Kaliske hit a sacrifice fly to make the score 22-18. TYLER CIRONE set down the Scarlet Raiders in order to seal the victory.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• The 22 runs in game two marked a new season-high for Montclair, surpassing the previous mark of 17 against Trinity on March 16. The Red Hawks have tallied double-digit run totals 14 times this season, including their last three games, matching their total of double-digit run contests from the 2023 season.
• Montclair collected 35 hits on the day, with 17 in the opener and 18 in game two. They have accumulated double-digit hits in each of their last three contests.
• Angelo and Malek each tallied six hits over the two games to lead the Red Hawks. Malek's four hits in game two marked a new career-high, and Angelo increased his nation-leading home run total to 18 on the campaign.
• Murphy collected four hits and six runs batted in for the day, with his five RBI in game two setting a new career best. McKenna added four hits and three RBI across both contests.

FROM THE FIELD

"We control our own destiny going into the final weekend of conference play and that's all we can ask for." - Head Coach Dave Lorber

UP NEXT

The Red Hawks will return home to take on Rutgers-Camden on Thursday, April 25. First pitch from Yogi Berra Stadium is scheduled for 3:30 PM.