Montclair, NJ – The Montclair State University baseball team earned its second-straight ranked victory as it came back to defeat #13 Penn State Harrisburg 5-4 on Sunday afternoon to close out the 2025 MSU Invitational.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Red Hawks (9-6) took the lead early in the contest, as BILLY TIGAR singled to left field to lead off the bottom of the second. After Tigar took second two at-bats later, BRODY DIERS singled to center field to drive him in and give the home side the advantage. A sacrifice fly with two runners in scoring position in the third leveled the contest for the Lions.
• Penn State Harrisburg pushed in front in the fourth, placing the first two batters on and moving them into scoring position on a ground out. Another ground out plated the go-ahead run, and a double to left center during the next at-bat increased the margin to two for the Lions.
• Montclair rallied in the bottom of the fifth, as MICHAEL MURPHY crushed a leadoff home run to left field to cut the deficit in half. Diers reached on a fielding error during the next at-bat and advanced to second on a balk. LUKAS EGENHAUSER placed a sacrifice bunt down to move the runner to third, and JARED LEVIS used a sacrifice fly to plate Diers to tie the game.
• The Lions countered immediately with a leadoff home run to right field in the sixth to reclaim the lead. They put runners on first and second later in the stanza, but Levis came up with a key third out in right field to keep the game at one. Penn State Harrisburg threatened again in the seventh with a runner on third and two outs, but BRENDAN ROCHE induced a ground ball to end the frame.
• Montclair surged back in front in the bottom of the eighth. Egenhauser led off the inning with a single to center field, and Levis moved him to second on a sacrifice bunt. ZACH STEARNS moved Egenhauser to third on a fly ball to right field, and MARCUS JOHNSON doubled down the left field line during the next at-bat to level the contest. MATT SHUHET singled up the middle on the first pitch to drive in the go-ahead tally from second base.
• PATRICK TEEHAN entered the game to close on the mound for the Red Hawks and worked a 1-2-3 inning on 10 pitches, including a strikeout on the afternoon's final at-bat.

INSIDE THE RESULTS

• Levis pushed his team-leading hit total to 22 with his ninth multi-hit game of the campaign out of the leadoff spot for Montclair.
• The home run for Murphy was his first of the season and fifth of his collegiate career.
• COLIN DOWLEN got the start for the Red Hawks, striking out two over six innings pitched. He has thrown six frames in each of his last two starts.
• COLIN BERNHARD earned his first collegiate victory, tossing a scoreless eighth inning. Teehan notched his fourth save of the season and seventh of his collegiate career. He has not allowed an earned run in 13 and two thirds innings across seven appearances.
• Montclair has notched back-to-back victories against ranked opponents, as it took dorn #9 Salisbury on Saturday, March 15.

FROM THE FIELD

"Thanks to all the teams that joined us here for the weekend. It was a nice way to end the weekend with another strong team win. Our bullpen was outstanding today to give us a chance in the end." - Head Coach Dave Lorber

UP NEXT

The Red Hawks will continue their 12-game homestand on Tuesday, March 18 against NYU. First pitch from Yogi Berra Stadium is scheduled for 3:00 PM.