Montclair, NJ- The Montclair State University Baseball team hosts #9 Salisbury to open Day Two of the MSU Invitational on Saturday afternoon.
 
GAME INFO
The game is slated to start at 11:30 a.m. Live coverage links and additional information on the event can be found at montclairathletics.com.

LAST TIME OUT
Montclair fell 5-3 to MIT on Friday, March 14 at Yogi Berra Stadium. The Red Hawks received a strong opening start from EVAN WOOD, who retired eight of the nine batters he faced over the opening three innings of the contest. Montclair threatened in the first, as JARED LEVIS notched a leadoff walk and then advanced to third on a wild pitch and then a stolen base a few at-bats later. MIT was able to escape the jam with back-to-back strikeouts. MARCUS JOHNSON broke the scoring open in the third, as he sent a double into center field to plate Levis and ZACH STEARNS. The Engineers leveled the game the next stanza, as an error and passed ball put a runner on third which was driven in during the next at-bat. Back-to-back errors put a runner on third again, leading to an infield single to tie the game. MIT took the lead in the fifth, as back-to-back singles cleared two runners in scoring position to make the score 4-2. MICHAEL TODARO entered the game with the bases loaded and one out, but recorded a strikeout and flyout to end the frame. The Engineers put runners on second and third in the sixth, but Todaro once again shut the door with back-to-back punchouts. Stearns was hit by a pitch to lead off the bottom of the sixth, and Johnson reached on a bunt that advanced Stearns to third on a throwing error. JUSTIN KILYK was hit by a pitch during the next at-bat to load the bases, and Montclair was able to bring in a run on a double play to cut the margin to one. The Red Hawks tried to mount a two-out rally in the bottom of the ninth, as MATT SHUHET notched a pinch hit single to left field and stole second to get into scoring position, but MIT recorded the final out of the day on a lineout to center field. 

TEAM LEADERS (ENTERING MARCH 14)
MONTCLAIR STATE (7-6)
OPS: MARCUS JOHNSON, 1.127
Batting Average: MATTHEW RINALDI, .375
Hits: JARED LEVIS, 16
Runs scored: LUKAS EGENHAUSER, 14
RBI: Two Tied for 15
Doubles: MARCUS JOHNSON, 6
Triples: Three Tied for 1
Home Runs: JUSTIN KILYK, 3
On Base %: Zach Stearns, .578
Stolen Bases: JARED LEVIS, 9
 
Pitching Record: EVAN WOOD, 2-1
Innings Pitched: Patrick Cuccurllo, 16.1
ERA: PATRICK TEEHAN 0.00
WHIP: PATRICK TEEHAN 1.03
Strikeouts: Patrick Teehan 19
Opponent's Batting Average: PATRICK TEEHAN, .162
Least amount of Hits Allowed: PATRICK TEEHAN, 6
Least number of Runs Allowed: PATRICK TEEHAN, 3
Saves:  PATRICK TEEHAN, 3
 
Putouts: ZACH STEARNS, 81
Assists: CHRIS GONZALO, 16
Fielding %: 16 Tied at 1.000
Double Plays: CHRIS GONZALO, 4

 
#9 SALISBURY (10-2)
OPS: Dylan Winebrenner, 1.305
Batting Average: Dylan Winebrenner, .463
Hits: Dylan Winebrenner, 19
Runs scored: BK Wilson, 19
RBI: Two Tied, 14
Doubles: Dylan Winebrenner, 8
Triples: Noah Burroughs, 3
Home Runs: Two Tied, 2
On Base %: Dylan Winebrenner, .549
Stolen Bases: Two Tied, 5
 
Pitching Record: Garrett Beaver, 2-0
Innings Pitched: Cole Williams, 18.1
ERA: Tyler Villa, 3.00
WHIP: Aidan Brinsfield, 1.20
Strikeouts: Aidan Brinsfield, 16
Opponent's Batting Average: Tyler Villa .227
Saves:  Bryce Sterling, 1
 
SCOUTING SALISBURY
The Gulls enter Saturday's contest with a 10-2 mark and are ranked ninth in the nation. They are coming off a 32-12 mark during the 2024 campaign, making it to the Super Regionals of the NCAA Tournament where they fell to Salve Regina. Salisbury took down #13 Penn State Harrisburg 6-5 on a walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth inning on March 14.

SERIES HISTORY
The two sides will meet for the 19th time in their history, with Salisbury holding a 12-6 advantage and winning four of the last five.
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LAST MEETING
Salisbury edged Montclair 4-3 on May 7, 2014 in the last meeting between the two teams.
 
UP NEXT
Montclair will close out the MSU Invitational on Sunday, March 16 against #13 Penn State Harrisburg. First pitch from Yogi Berra Stadium is scheduled for 12:30 PM.