Montclair, NJ- The fourth-seeded Montclair State University baseball team looks to extend its season as its takes on sixth-seeded Rutgers-Camden on Saturday afternoon

GAME INFO
The first pitch from Yogi Berra Stadium is set for 3:00 p.m. Live coverage links can be found at montclairathletics.com.


LAST TIME OUT
Montclair dropped its first-round matchup on the road at TCNJ, 8-5, on Thursday afternoon. The Red Hawks (24-15-1) took an early lead in the second inning to kick off the afternoon. BILLY TIGAR singled through the right side and advanced to second on a balk during the net at-bat in which MICHAEL MURPHY drove him home on a single to left field. PATRICK CUCCURULLO retired six of the next seven batters he faced on the mound for the Red Hawks. TCNJ climbed back and took the lead in the fourth, putting the first two batters on with a double and a throwing error. After a fielder's choice moved both runners into scoring position, a single to right field leveled the contest. A double to right center plated two more runs to give the Lions the lead. The home side added another pair of runs in the sixth on another double to increase the margin to four with three frames remaining. The Lions continued their offensive surge in the seventh, placing the leadoff hitter on with a single to center field. After a groundout advanced the runner to second, a single through the left side placed runners on the corners with one out. Three consecutive hits, including a double to right center, drove in three runs to make the score 8-1. MILES FEASTER led off the eighth with a single up the middle, and scored on a fielding error during the next at-bat as BRODY DIERS singled to left field. With Diers on third following a wild pitch, JARED LEVIS singled to plate the second tally of the stanza. ZACH STEARNS reached on an infield single, and with two runners on, a throwing error by the pitcher allowed MARCUS JOHNSON to reach base safely with Levis coming around to score. Following a pitching change, CHASE FISCHER notched an infield single that drove in another run to cut the deficit to three. Diers and Levis recorded back-to-back singles in the ninth with one out, but the Lions were able to secure the final two outs to clinch the tournament-opening victory.


TEAM LEADERS
MONTCLAIR STATE (24-15-1)
OPS: BILLY TIGAR, 1.046
Batting Average: BILLY TIGAR, .384
Hits: MARCUS JOHNSON, 47
Runs scored: Two Tied for 37
RBI: Two Tied for 34
Doubles: MARCUS JOHNSON, 14
Triples: LUKAS EGENHAUSER, 3
Home Runs: CHASE FISCHER, 8
On Base %: ZACH STEARNS, .525
Stolen Bases: JARED LEVIS, 21

Pitching Record: PATRICK CUCCURULLO, 5-1
Innings Pitched: PATRICK CUCCURULLO, 69.0
ERA: PATRICK TEEHAN 2.27
WHIP: PATRICK TEEHAN .87
Strikeouts: PATRICK CUCCURULLO, 54
Opponent's Batting Average: PATRICK TEEHAN, .192
Least amount of Hits Allowed: PATRICK TEEHAN, 25
Least number of Runs Allowed: PATRICK TEEHAN, 14
Saves:  PATRICK TEEHAN, 9

Putouts: ZACH STEARNS, 221
Assists: LUKAS EGENHAUSER, 98
Fielding% %: 14 Tied at 1.000
Double Plays: BILLY TIGAR, 22

 
RUTGERS-CAMDEN (26-15)
OPS: Frankie Romond, 1.118
Batting Average: Frankie Romond, .377
Hits: Frankie Romond, 57
Runs scored: Steven Schaffer, 40
RBI: Frankie Romond, 42
Doubles: Jack Murphy, 17
Triples: Frankie Romond, 4
Home Runs: Frankie Romond, 8
On Base %: Ryan Nutley, .443
Stolen Bases: Austin Dubler, 22
 
Pitching Record: Ethan Carpenter, 6-2
Innings Pitched: Ethan Carpenter, 58.0
ERA: Chase Cooper, 2.39
WHIP: Chase Cooper, 1.20
Strikeouts: Daniel Robeson,62
Opponent's Batting Average: Chase Cooper, .240
Least amount of Hits Allowed: Chase Cooper, 42
Least number of Runs Allowed: Chase Cooper, 16
Saves: Jacob Shapely, 4
 
Putouts: Diego Salazar, 190
Assists: Frankie Romond, 102
Fielding%: 18 Tied at 1.000
Double Plays: Frankie Romond, 23

SCOUTING RUTGERS-CAMDEN
The Scarlet Raptors entered the NJAC Tournament as the sixth-seeded team in the NJAC. They are coming off a massive victory in their first matchup, rallying from behind to best to top-seeded and #6/6 Kean, 7-4 on Thursday. 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 were slated to finish seventh.

SERIES HISTORY
The Red Hawks and the Scarlet Raptors will square off for the 88^th time in their series. Montclair controls the series at 69-18. It will also be the first time these two teams meet in the playoffs since 2015.

LAST MEETING
These two teams faced off recently on April 25 at Yogi Berra Stadium where the Red Hawks took a 12-7 home win.


UP NEXT
Montclair State University, with a win, would advance to the third round the following day on Sunday, May 4, with a time and opponent to be determined later on. A loss would eliminate the Red Hawks from the NJAC Tournament and have them waiting to see if they earn an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament.