Montclair, NJ – The Montclair State University baseball team took down SUNY Poly 16-12 in a high-scoring contest to kick off the 2025 season at Yogi Berra Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Red Hawks (1-0) fell behind early, as the Wildcats plated three runs in the second inning. SUNY Poly broke the scoring open on a hit batter with the bases loaded, and then a single through the right side in the next at-bat drove in two more baserunners.
• Montclair answered immediately in the bottom half of the stanza, as JARED LEVIS doubled to left field to drive in two runs, and MARCUS JOHNSON brought home the equalizer in the ensuing plate appearance. After MICHAEL MURPHY reached on a fielding error and stole second, MILES FEASTER doubled to right field to give the Red Hawks a two-run lead, plating Levis and Murphy. MATT SHUHET continued the push, as he doubled to drive in Feaster to make the score 6-3.
• Johnson singled to drive in a run the next inning to make the margin four, but SUNY Poly shaved two off the deficit in the top of the fourth. Montclair added to their lead the same inning, as LUKAS EGENHAUSER doubled to right field to drive in two runs after a bases loaded walk brought in another tally. Levis used a sacrifice fly during the next at-bat to make the score 11-5 in favor of the home side.
• Montclair continued their offensive surge in the opener, as JUSTIN KILYK hit a pinch hit single to right field to score Murphy, and MICHAEL WANSAW JR. drove in two runs on a pinch hit single of his own to push the margin to double-digits. Egenhauser plated Wansaw Jr. on a groundout to give the Red Hawks a 16-5 advantage.
• The Wildcats rallied immediately, as they scored four runs on six consecutive hits, and added a fifth marker in the frame on a walk with the bases loaded. TOBY SMITH ended the rally with back-to-back punchouts on the mound. The visitors tacked on another run in the seventh to shave the deficit to five, but couldn't continue the push in the eighth as NICK DESIDERIO retired three out of four batters.
• SUNY Poly loaded the bases in the ninth, and crept within four as they reached on a fielder's choice. PATRICK TEEHAN shut the door with a crucial bases-loaded strikeout to end the contest, sealing the season-opening victory for Montclair.

INSIDE THE RESULTS

• Levis and Egenhauser led the way for the Red Hawks with two hits and three RBI each. Johnson notched two hits and two RBI, with Feaster and Wansaw Jr. also driving in two runs each.
• Eight different Red Hawks tallied a hit, and eight notched at least one RBI.
• Montclair has won its season opener in three of its last five campaigns. They have recorded double-digit run totals in two of their last three season openers.
• COLIN DOWLEN notched the victory on the mound for the Red Hawks, striking out three over an inning and a third. Teehan, in his first appearance since May 7, 2023, picked up his fourth career save.

FROM THE FIELD

"It was fun to get outside and play baseball today. Even more so when you win." - Head Coach Dave Lorber

UP NEXT

The Red Hawks will remain home to take on St. Joseph's Long Island on Sunday, February 23. First pitch from Yogi Berra Stadium is scheduled for 12:00 PM.