Washington, D.C. – The Montclair State University Baseball team used a three-run ninth inning rally to earn a walk-off victory over Stevens, 6-5, on Saturday evening.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Red Hawks (4-1) saw CHRIS MATESIC retire the side in order to kick off the contest before JARED LEVIS led off the home half of the first with a triple to right field. During the next at-bat, BILLY TIGAR brought Levis home on a groundout to break the scoring open. Matesic notched a key inning-ending strikeout with a runner in scoring position in the second, and worked around a runner on third with one out in the third with a punchout and groundout to maintain the margin.
• Montclair doubled their advantage in the bottom of the fifth, with ZACH STEARNS plating Levis from second base on a single to center field. The Ducks answered with a pair of runs in the following inning with a two-run home run to left field to equalize, but the Red Hawks regained the advantage in their half of the sixth with a pinch-hit home run from BRODY DIERS. 
• Stevens recorded a leadoff double in the eighth and would bring that runner home during the next at-bat on a single to center field to tie the game. With two runners in scoring position and one out, the Ducks took the lead with a sacrifice fly to center field, but could not add to it as LOGAN SHUMARD entered the game and generated a groundout to end the threat. They increased the gap to two in the top of the ninth with a solo homer to center field, making it 5-3 going into the final frame for the Red Hawks.
• MICHAEL WANSAW JR. singled to lead off the home half, and Levis was hit to put two runners on for Tigar, who reached on a throwing error allowing both runners to score and level the contest at five. Stearns drew a walk during the next at-bat, and a sacrifice bunt from DYLAN BRIGGS put both runners in scoring position. After MATT KALISKE was intentionally walked, DANNY O'BRIEN singled to left field to walk off the game and seal the victory for the Red Hawks.

INSIDE THE RESULTS

• Levis recorded his second consecutive multi-hit performance while also drawing a walk and accumulating three runs.
• Stearns increased his season-opening runs batted in streak to five, with Tigar notching his sixth of the campaign.
• The home run for Diers came on his first at-bat of the season, marking his second career homer.
• O'Brien, who made his collegiate debut a day prior, came through with the game-winning hit and his first career RBI.
• Mastic struck out eight over six innings in his second career start, with Shumard picking up a win and two strikeouts over an inning and a third in his collegiate debut.
• Montclair has won four of its first five games in each of the last six seasons.

FROM THE BALLPARK

"It took a lot of players to find a way to win. Hopefully this win can give us some calm and confidence moving forward." - Head Coach Dave Lorber

UP NEXT

The Red Hawks will close out their weekend with a clash against #9 Salve Regina on Sunday, March 1. First pitch from Washington, D.C. is scheduled for 2:00 PM.