Montclair, NJ – The Montclair State University baseball team used a late-game offensive push to surge past Mount Saint Vincent, 14-5, on Tuesday afternoon at Yogi Berra Stadium.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Red Hawks (3-0) recorded a key inning-ending groundout in the top of the first, as the Dolphins had the bases loaded. Montclair answered immediately with a leadoff triple from JARED LEVIS and placed MICHAEL MURPHY on second with a hit by pitch and stolen base. The visitors induced three consecutive groundouts to end the threat.
• Entering the contest in relief in the top of the third, JOE PACCIONE punched out five batters over two and two thirds innings, putting only two runners on during that stretch. 
• In the sixth, Mount Saint Vincent plated the first run of the contest on a single up the middle with two outs, driving home a run before a runner was thrown out at first to end the frame. The Red Hawks countered right away, as ZACH STEARNS singled to drive in MATT KALISKE and MILES FEASTER to push the home side in front.
• After the Dolphins tacked on three runs to reclaim the advantage in the seventh, MICHAEL MURPHY doubled to center field to drive in Levis to cut the deficit in half. Feaster notched an RBI double, and MARCUS JOHNSON hit a sacrifice fly to right field to drive in the go-ahead run. Later in the inning, LUKAS EGENHAUSER drove in two runs on a single, and after he stole second, Levis brought him and BRODY DIERS in on a single to balloon the lead to 9-4 after seven.
• The visitors used a sacrifice fly in the eighth to make the margin four, but another immediate counter from Montclair came at the hands of Johnson, who doubled to center field to plate a run. An error following a fielder's choice brought in Johnson, and Egenhauser used an infield single to drive in his third run of the contest. Another fielder's choice scored the fourth run of the stanza, and Diers took home on a throw to second trying to prevent a Levis steal to make the final margin nine.

INSIDE THE RESULTS

• Levis matched his career-high of three runs batted in, having achieved the feat twice in the campaign's opening three contests. He has four hits and seven RBI in 12 plate appearances this season.
• Egenhauser collected three hits and drove in three runs, his second game with three RBI. Johnson drove in his team-leading seventh and eighth runs of the season on two hits. 
• Stearns entered the game as a pinch hitter and notched two runs batted in on a hit and a walk. He has reached base successfully in all but one at-bat this season.
• BRENDAN ROCHE notched his second career victory, throwing the final two and a third innings, striking out two batters.

FROM THE FIELD

"Tough start for us as a group today, credit to their starter. Today was a good learning experience that we need to come out focused and with energy. Tomorrow is a day to prove that we can do that from inning one." - Head Coach Dave Lorber

UP NEXT

The Red Hawks will close out their season-opening four-game homestand on Wednesday, February 25, as they take on Maritime College. First pitch from Yogi Berra Stadium is scheduled for 2:00 PM.