Montclair, NJ- The Montclair State University baseball team heads into the final week of the regular season and kicks it off with a trip to take on Rutgers-Camden on Thursday.   

GAME INFO
The first pitch from the Camden Athletic Complex is set for 3:30 p.m. Live coverage links can be found at montclairathletics.com.


LAST TIME OUT
Montclair split its home doubleheader against Rutgers-Newark with an 11-10 extra-inning loss in game one but stormed back for an 18-1 triumph in game two. Montclair jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first on a wild pitch that allowed JARED LEVIS to come home from third, but the visitors equalized in the second on a single up the middle following a triple to right field. Rutgers-Newark took their first lead in the third on a double to center field, followed by a single to double the lead to 3-1. The Scarlet Raiders plated two more markers later in the stanza on a double to right center and a single to left field to take a four-run advantage. Rutgers-Newark added their sixth run of the day an inning later on a sacrifice fly with the bases loaded. The Red Hawks began to rally in the home half of the fourth, as consecutive walks and a hit batter loaded the bases for ZACH STEARNS, who was also hit by a pitch to bring in a run. Following a pitching change, MARCUS JOHNSON used a sacrifice fly to bring in CHRIS GONZALO, and Levis scored during the next at-bat on a pickoff attempt across the diamond to first to cut the deficit to two. After the Scarlet Raiders notched a run in the fifth, Montclair mounted the second half of their rally to reclaim the lead. CHASE FISCHER reached on an error, BILLY TIGAR walked, and MICHAEL MURPHY singled to load the bases for LUKAS EGENHAUSER, who worked a walk to plate a runner. MILES FEASTER singled to bring in the second run of the stanza, and Gonzalo was hit by a pitch to bring in another marker. After another pitching change, Levis reached on a fielder's choice to put Montclair in front, and Johnson singled to right field later in the inning to drive in two more runs. PATRICK Teahan entered the game in relief in the sixth and retired the first six batters he faced, but the visitors pushed back to level the contest in the eighth. Following back-to-back singles and a hit batter to load the bases, another hit batter and single through the left side cut the margin to one. A double play during the next at-bat allowed the game-tying runner to cross the plate. Rutgers-Newark recorded double plays defensively in three consecutive innings and took the lead in the 11th on a sacrifice fly to claim game one.
Montclair raced out to a 7-0 lead after the opening inning of game two, putting the first two batters on with walks, with Johnson loading the bases on a single to right field. The Red Hawks plated three runs on consecutive bases-loaded walks and added a fourth on a sacrifice fly from Egenhauser. After BRODY DIERS walked to load the bases again, a balk drove in the fifth marker of the stanza. During the next at-bat, Gonzalo singled to left field to bring in the final two tallies of the opening inning. A sacrifice fly put the Scarlet Raiders on the board in the second, but the Red Hawks countered with another pair of runs in the home half of the frame on a leadoff home run from CHASE FISCHER and an error that allowed Murphy to score from third. The home side continued to surge offensively in the following stanza, as Murphy was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to bring in Johnson. Following a pitching change, back-to-back walks allowed two more markers to go on the board to make the margin 11 after three. Consecutive walks to kick off the fifth allowed Diers to drive in both runners on a double down the right field line to clear the bases. After a groundout allowed Diers to move to third, Levis brought him home on another groundout for Montclair's 15th run of the contest. The Red Hawks added three more in the next inning, as back-to-back doubles put two runners in scoring position for Egenhauser, who singled down the right field line to drive in Tigar. MATT SHUHET entered the game as a pinch hitter during the next at-bat and singled to left field to bring in another marker, and JOEY NOLAN drove in the final run of the day on a sacrifice fly to right field.
 


TEAM LEADERS
MONTCLAIR STATE (23-12, 9-5 NJAC)
OPS: MARCUS JOHNSON, 1.009
Batting Average: MARCUS JOHNSON, .365
Hits: MARCUS JOHNSON, 46
Runs scored: LUKAS EGENHAUSER, 34
RBI: CHASE FISCHER, 31
Doubles: MARCUS JOHNSON, 14
Triples: LUKAS EGENHAUSER, 3
Home Runs: CHASE FISCHER, 6
On Base %: ZACH STEARNS, .532
Stolen Bases: JARED LEVIS, 21

Pitching Record: PATRICK CUCCURULLO, 4-0
Innings Pitched: PATRICK CUCCURULLO, 57.1
ERA: PATRICK TEEHAN 2.03
WHIP: PATRICK TEEHAN 0.81
Strikeouts: PATRICK CUCCURULLO, 50
Opponent's Batting Average: PATRICK TEEHAN, .171
Least amount of Hits Allowed: PATRICK TEEHAN, 19
Least number of Runs Allowed: PATRICK TEEHAN, 12
Saves:  PATRICK TEEHAN, 8

Putouts: ZACH STEARNS, 202
Assists: LUKAS EGENHAUSER, 86
Fielding% %: 16 Tied at 1.000
Double Plays: BILLY TIGAR, 17

 
RUTGERS-CAMDEN (23-13, 6-8 NJAC)
OPS: Frankie Romond, 1.057
Batting Average: Frankie Romond, .369
Hits: Frankie Romond, 48
Runs scored: Two Tied at 36
RBI: Two Tied at 35
Doubles: Jack Murphy, 15
Triples: Frankie Romond, 3
Home Runs: Frankie Romond, 5
On Base %: Ryan Nutley, .439
Stolen Bases: Austin Dubler, 17
 
Pitching Record: Ethan Carpenter, 5-2
Innings Pitched: Ethan Carpenter, 50.0
ERA: Chase Cooper, 2.72
WHIP: Chase Cooper, 1.23
Strikeouts: Daniel Robeson, 57
Opponent's Batting Average: Chase Cooper, .242
Least amount of Hits Allowed: Chase Cooper, 37
Least number of Runs Allowed: Chase Cooper, 29
Saves: Jacob Shapely, 4
 
Putouts: Diego Salazar, 190
Assists: Frankie Romond, 86
Fielding%: 18 Tied at 1.000
Double Plays: Frankie Romond, 23

SCOUTING RUTGERS-CAMDEN
The Scarlet Raptors enter this matchup with a 23-13 overall record and a 6-8 NJAC record that holds them in seventh place. In its last matchup this past Tuesday, they hosted Centenary (NJ) and downed the Cyclones, 10-3. In 2024, Rutgers-Camden finished with a record of 26-15 and an 11-7 NJAC record. They qualified for the NJAC Tournament but were eliminated with losses to Ramapo (7-6) and TCNJ (6-4). According to the 2025 NJAC Preseason Poll, the Scarlet Raptors are slated to finish seventh.

SERIES HISTORY
The Red Hawks and the Scarlet Raptors will face off in contest number 85 in their conference rivalry. Montclair has owned most of the series at 68-17.  

LAST MEETING
These two teams met last on April 26, 2024, where Rutgers-Camden secured an 8-5 win for the season sweep.


UP NEXT
Montclair State University will play contest two against Rutgers-Camden when they host them at Yogi Berra Stadium on Friday, April 25, at 3:30 p.m.