Montclair, NJ- The Montclair State University baseball team hits the road for the first time since March 11 as they travel to take on William Paterson on Thursday.
 
GAME INFO
The NJAC showdown at Jeff Albies Field will take place at 3:30 p.m. Live coverage links and additional information on the event can be found at montclairathletics.com.


LAST TIME OUT
Montclair opened up NJAC play with doubleheader victories of 5-3, and 4-2 against Ramapo. The Red Hawks (16-7, 2-0 NJAC) received a strong start from PATRICK CUCCURULLO, who retired nine of the first 10 batters he faced over the opening three innings. Ramapo broke through in the fourth, however, on a home run to right field and a single up the middle later in the stanza to put the visitors up two. Montclair threatened in the bottom half of the frame, loading the bases on a walk by BILLY TIGAR, but Ramapo generated the final two outs to get out of the jam. Cuccurullo continued his strong performance on the mound, as he retired seven out of the next eight batters, including back-to-back strikeouts in the seventh to close out his day. Montclair broke through in the bottom half of the inning on a leadoff walk by MATT SHUHET and a single to right field from LUKAS EGENHAUSER, leading to an RBI single from CHRIS GONZALO following a pitching change to cut the deficit in half. Following a sacrifice bunt during the next at-bat to put two runners in scoring position, ZACH STEARNS walked to load the bases once again for the Red Hawks. Later in the stanza, CHASE FISCHER blasted a home run to right center to clear the diamond, vaulting Montclair in front, 5-2. Ramapo shaved off a run in the eighth on a sacrifice fly, but went down in order in the ninth as PATRICK TEEHAN sealed the victory for the home side. Ramapo jumped out early in game two, plating a run in the top of the first on a single to left field following a double to right field during the previous at-bat. The Red Hawks equalized in the bottom half of the stanza, as back-to-back singles from MARCUS JOHNSON and Fischer led to an RBI hit from Tigar to level the game. Montclair took the lead in the third, as a throwing error placed two runners in scoring position for MICHAEL MURPHY, who drove in Fischer from third on a sacrifice fly. After falling behind with two outs to begin the top of the fifth, Ramapo would level the contest. After a hit batter, a triple to center field drove in the equalizer, and with two runners in scoring position, COLIN DOWLEN was able to notch the final out of the stanza on a fly out to right field. Ramapo was able to escape a bases loaded jam in the bottom half of the frame on a groundout to the pitcher with two outs. JACK HAVESON entered the game in relief in the sixth and retired nine of the first 10 batters he faced. JUSTIN KILYK led off the bottom of the eighth with a pinch-hit home run to deep center field to push the home side in front. Egenhauser was hit by a pitch during the next at-bat and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Gonzalo. Stearns reached on a muffed throw by the first baseman which plated the run from second to double the advantage for Montclair. Haveson shut the door in the ninth to complete the doubleheader sweep for the Red Hawks.
 
TEAM LEADERS
MONTCLAIR STATE (16-7, 2-0 NJAC)
OPS: MARCUS JOHNSON, 1.124
Batting Average: MARCUS JOHNSON, .402
Hits: MARCUS JOHNSON, 33
Runs scored: LUKAS EGENHAUSER, 24
RBI: MARCUS JOHNSON, 23
Doubles: MARCUS JOHNSON, 13
Triples: LUKAS EGENHAUSER, 2
Home Runs: Two Tied for 4
On Base %: ZACH STEARNS, .538
Stolen Bases: JARED LEVIS, 14
 
Pitching Record: PATRICK CUCCURULLO, 3-0
Innings Pitched: PATRICK CUCCURULLO, 36.1
ERA: PATRICK TEEHAN 1.86
WHIP: PATRICK TEEHAN 0.92
Strikeouts: PATRICK CUCCURULLO, 36
Opponent's Batting Average: PATRICK TEEHAN, .167
Least amount of Hits Allowed: PATRICK TEEHAN, 12
Least number of Runs Allowed: PATRICK TEEHAN, 8
Saves:  PATRICK TEEHAN, 7
 
Putouts: ZACH STEARNS, 138
Assists: LUKAS EGENHAUSER, 47
Fielding% %: 18 Tied at 1.000
Double Plays: Two Tied for 6

 
WILLIAM PATERSON (15-6, 0-2 NJAC)
OPS: Dylan Santos, 1.146
Batting Average: Dylan Santos, 1.146
Hits: Dylan Santos, 38
Runs scored: Jordan Brown, 28
RBI: Braden Ramirez, 22
Doubles: Ty Kobylakiewicz, 9
Triples: Five Tied for 1
Home Runs: Braden Ramirez, 3
On Base %: Devin Daproza, .508
Stolen Bases: Jordan Brown 8
 
Pitching Record: Chase Geisler, 4-0
Innings Pitched: Robert Nathan, 36.2
ERA: Nick Durso, 3.18
WHIP: Robert Nathan, 1.01
Strikeouts: Robert Nathan, 37
Opponent's Batting Average: Robert Nathan, .188
Least amount of Hits Allowed: Nick Durso, 16
Least number of Runs Allowed: Neel Telidevara, 7
Saves:  Nick Durso, 7
 
Putouts: Ty Kobylakiewicz, 135
Assists: Angel Colon, 41
Fielding% %: 17 Tied at 1.000
Double Plays: Ty Kobylakiewicz, 11

SCOUTING WILLIAM PATERSON
The Pioneers are entering this showdown with a 15-6 overall record and a 0-2 NJAC record. In their last matchup, they blanked visiting DeSales, 6-0 on Tuesday. In 2024, William Paterson notched a 11-27 overall record with a 6-12 NJAC record that saw them miss out on the NJAC Tournament. According to the 2025 NJAC Preseason Poll, they are projected to finish eighth.

SERIES HISTORY
The Red Hawks and the Pioneers restore their rivalry for the 210^th time. Montclair has the all-time advatange at 120-89 and has won the last five contests.
 
LAST MEETING
These two teams met last on April 4, 2024, at Jeff Albies Field, where Montclair was victorious by a score of 7-5.
 
UP NEXT
Montclair State University will play William Paterson again, but will host them at Yogi Berra Stadium on Friday, April 4 at 3:30 p.m.