Glassboro, NJ – The Montclair State University baseball team split a doubleheader with #16 Rowan on Saturday afternoon.

The Red Hawks (19-8, 5-1 NJAC) fell 21-3 in game one before bouncing back with a 13-6 victory in the second contest.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Red Hawks battled a tightly contested opening three innings of the first game, but the Profs used a 12-run fourth innings to surge out in front. After Montclair struck for their first run of the day in the fifth on a double from CHRIS GONZALO, the Profs put together the next eight runs. MILES FEASTER drove in two runs in the ninth on a single to right field, but the Red Hawks could not get any closer.
• Montclair jumped out ahead in the first inning of game two, as JARED LEVIS led off the game with a single to center field and ZACH STEARNS doubled down the left field line to place two runners in scoring position for MARCUS JOHNSON, who plated Levis on a groundout to first. CHASE FISCHER drove in the game's second run on a sacrifice fly during the next at-bat.
• Rowan tied the game in the bottom of the third, as a fielder's choice brought in a marker with runners on the corners. With a stolen base and a groundout, a bunt single plated a runner from third for the Profs. The visitors countered immediately in the fourth, as Johnson led off the frame with a double down the right field line. Fischer walked during the ensuing at-bat, and a sacrifice bunt from BILLY TIGAR moved both runners up. MICHAEL MURPHY notched a sacrifice fly, and MILES FEASTER singled to drive in Fischer to make the score 4-2.
• With the bases loaded in the fifth, Johnson reached on a fielder's choice to plate Gonzalo to add to the advantage. Fischer singled immediately after to bring home two more tallies for the Red Hawks, and Murphy drove in the frame's final run on a ground out to increase the margin to six at the halfway point. Rowan climbed back into the contest, scoring four runs over the sixth and seventh to bring the game to 8-6.
• Gonzalo homered in the top of the eighth to nudge the margin back to three, and the Red Hawks made one final offensive surge in the ninth. Three consecutive singles led to a run batted in from Tigar, and Murphy was hit by a pitch during the next at-bat to load the bases for Feaster, who singled to drive in Fischer. LUKAS EGENHAUSER drew a bases loaded walk to plate another marker, and Levis tallied the final run of the day on a sacrifice fly to make the margin seven.

INSIDE THE RESULTS

• Eight different Red Hawks drove in a run during game two, led by three from Fischer on a pair of hits. He has tallied four games this season with three or more RBI.
• Johnson and Feaster each notched a pair of hits and RBI, with Murphy collecting two runs batted in as well. Stearns matched his career-high of three hits to round out the group offensively.
• COLIN DOWLEN got the start on the mound in game two and earned his third win of the season, striking out a career-best nine over a season-high six and a third innings pitched. He has spanned six or more frames in four of his last five starts.
• MICHAEL TODARO recorded his fourth multi-inning performance out of the bullpen, spanning the final two and two third innings, not allowing a run.
• The victory marked Montclair's third against a ranked opponent this season, as the Red Hawks have won five of their first six games to open up New Jersey Athletic Conference play.

FROM THE FIELD

"The team showed a lot of resilience and character bouncing back from a tough game one to earn a split on the road." - Head Coach Dave Lorber

UP NEXT

The Red Hawks will return home to face #14 Kean on Thursday, April 10. First pitch from Yogi Berra Stadium is scheduled for 3:30 PM.