Jersey City, NJ – The Montclair State University baseball team used an offensive explosion to surpass New Jersey City University 14-3 on Friday afternoon.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Red Hawks (22-11, 8-4 NJAC) jumped out in front in the first inning, as MARCUS JOHNSON notched a solo home run to vault the visitors in front. The Gothic Knights threatened in their half of the stanza, but CHRIS HASTINGS recorded an inning-ending strikeout with two runners on. Montclair added to their lead in the next frame, as CHRIS GONZALO homered after back-to-back hit batters to increase the margin to four. NJCU countered with a two-run home run in the bottom of the second to cut the margin in half.
• The home side used a solo home run in the third to come within a run, but the Red Hawks answered in the next inning with three runs of their own. After placing the first two batters of the frame in scoring position, MILES FEASTER singled through the left side to plate BILLY TIGAR from third. Two batters later, JARED LEVIS used a sacrifice fly to drive in Feaster, and Gonzalo scored later in the inning after the Gothic Knights threw down to second to try and prevent a stolen base attempt from ZACH STEARNS.
• Montclair continued their offensive surge in the fifth, as Tigar doubled to left center to drive in MICHAEL MURPHY from second. LUKAS EGENHAUSER singled up the middle during the next at-bat to plate Tigar and increase the lead to 9-3 at the halfway point of the contest.
• In the seventh, Egenhauser led off the stanza with a single through the right side and advanced to second on a ground out. Gonzalo singled to right center during the next at-bat to bring in the 10th run of the day for Montclair. Levis singled and Johnson walked to load the bases for CHASE FISCHER, who ripped a double down the left field line to clear the diamond and increase the lead to double digits. Feaster added the final run of the day in the eighth on a sacrifice fly to help seal the road victory for the Red Hawks.

INSIDE THE RESULTS

• Gonzalo recorded a career-high four runs batted in on a pair of hits to lead the way for Montclair. The home run was his second of the campaign, with the two hits marking his third career multi-hit performance.
• Fischer tallied two hits and three RBI, with the game being his fifth of the year in which he has driven in three or more runs. Feaster was the third Red Hawk with multiple runs batted in, notching two.
• Levis increased his hitting streak to 12 games and has reached base safely in each of Montclair's last 16 contests. Johnson recorded his fifth multi-hit game over his last seven appearances.
• Egenhauser matched his career-high of four hits on the day, reaching base safely in four of his last five contests.
• Hastings made his first collegiate start, throwing three innings. COLIN BERNHARD earned his third victory of the campaign as he accumulated a career-high six scoreless innings, not allowing a hit while striking out two batters.
• Montclair held a 15-4 advantage in hits on the day, scoring a run or more in six of the nine frames of the game.

FROM THE FIELD

"Nice to see us have a solid offensive breakout performance today and a great job by COLIN BERNHARD to settle in and give us length when we needed it." - Head Coach Dave Lorber

UP NEXT

The Red Hawks will welcome Rutgers-Newark to Yogi Berra Stadium for a Senior Day doubleheader on Saturday, April 19. First pitch is scheduled for 11:30 AM and 2:30 PM.