Montclair, NJ – Powered by season-highs in hits and runs, the Montclair State University Baseball team vaulted past MIT 20-1 in the opener of a three-game series at Yogi Berra Stadium on Friday afternoon.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Red Hawks (9-3) loaded the bases right from the start on a JARED LEVIS walk, ZACH STEARNS hit-by-pitch, and BILLY TIGAR infield single. CHASE FISCHER ripped a single to left field to plate Levis, with a hit batter bringing home Stearns to double the advantage. After Tigar scored on a wild pitch, MATT KALISKE singled through the left side to bring Fischer home to make the margin four. During the next at-bat, JOHN TOMSHO crushed a double to left field, plating another pair of runs to force a pitching change with still no outs in the inning. MICHAEL WANSAW JR. singled through the right side with the new arm in the game to bring in Tomsho, and with runners on the corners, Levis utilized a sacrifice fly to make the difference eight. The final tally of the inning came during the next at-bat on a double from Stearns as Montclair jumped out to a 9-0 lead after one frame of play.
• With the bases loaded and no outs in the second, a fielder's choice would allow Tomsho to score from third to vault the Red Hawks into double-digits. Levis stole second during the next at-bat, with Wansaw coming in to score on a wild pitch to nudge the gap to 11. Stearns hit his second-straight double to bring in the 12th tally of the day, forcing another pitching change from the Engineers. After Tigar walked to put runners on the corners following a wild pitch, Fischer crushed a home run to left field to clear the diamond, making the difference 15. Following a groundout, Kaliske ripped a homer down the left field line to add the final marker of the second.
• MIT notched their only run of the day in the fourth, as a single to left field with two runners on brought in a tally from second base. The Red Hawks answered right back in the fourth, as Kaliske doubled to set up CHRISTIAN PETINO JR., who recorded a double of his own down the left field line to plate Kaliske. Egenhauser singled to center field during the ensuing at-bat to make the score 18-1, driving in Petino. Montclair would tack on two more runs in the bottom of the sixth, as DYLAN BRIGGS drew a leadoff walk and would come in to score on a double to right center from Petino. With runners on the corners, JOEY NOLAN singled up the middle to bring in the final run of the day, making the final margin 19 runs.

INSIDE THE RESULTS

• Kaliske tallied a season-best three hits, including his second home run in as many games. Wansaw, also with a trio of hits, set a new career-best while amassing seven over his last three contests. Egenhauser was the final Red Hawk with three hits, also a season-high.
• Fischer's homer was his third of the season, as he finished the day with a pair of hits and four runs batted in. He has totaled six hits and driven in ten runs over Montclair's last four games.
• Stearns totaled a pair of extra-base hits, plating two runs in the process. Petino, making his Montclair debut, notched a pair of doubles in his two at-bats, bringing in two tallies of his own. 
• Tigar continued his stellar start to the season at the plate, extending his hit streak to 12 games to open the campaign. His pair of hits increased his season total to a team-leading 21. 
• Tomsho has tallied a hit in three-straight appearances, driving in two runs in each of his last two. DANNY O'BRIEN increased his hitting streak to six games, reaching base safely in eight of his first nine career games of his freshman campaign.
• Montclair's 20 runs were the most scored in a game since April 20, 2024, when it put up 22 against Rutgers-Newark. The Red Hawks accumulated 21 hits on the day, their most recorded since April 6, 2024, matching the total they had against Rowan.
• COLIN DOWLEN got the start on the mound for Montclair, spanning five innings and striking out four to earn his third victory of the year. CHUCK ENNIS spun a scoreless final two innings of the afternoon to help seal the victory.
• The Red Hawks are 68-19 at Yogi Berra Stadium dating back to the beginning of the 2022 season.

FROM THE BALLPARK

"Great overall win today - we got solid performances on the mound and defensively, with a well-rounded day at the plate offensively. We will look towards tomorrow with the approach of a 0-0 ballgame, and will try to win the series." - Head Coach Dave Lorber

UP NEXT

The Red Hawks will host MIT for the second day of their three-game series on Saturday, March 14. First pitch from Yogi Berra Stadium is scheduled for 3:00 PM.