Montclair, NJ – The Montclair State University Baseball team fell to Westfield State 8-3 in the opener of a three-game weekend series at Yogi Berra Stadium on Friday afternoon.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Red Hawks (12-4) recorded a pair of strikeouts to begin the afternoon before falling behind on a solo home run to left center from Westfield State. Montclair placed a runner in scoring position in the home half of the stanza, as JARED LEVIS notched a leadoff single and advanced to third on a pair of stolen bases. The Owls escaped the threat, however, generating a strikeout and groundout. Westfield State added to their advantage during the next frame, loading the bases on a pair of singles and seven-pitch walk. During the next at-bat, a single through the left side plated a run as the Owls added another tally later in the inning to make the score 3-0.
• DANNY O'BRIEN kicked off the bottom of the second with a single through the left side, and after taking second during the next at-bat, would come around to score on a double to right field from MICHAEL WANSAW JR. to cut the deficit to two. Westfield State tacked on a run in the visitor half of the fifth, as a single and wild pitch put a runner in scoring position that would come around to score on a single up the middle. The Owls threatened again in the seventh, placing a runner at second with one out before getting picked off going to third. 
• Westfield State staged a two-out offensive push in the eighth, bringing in the fifth run of the day on a single up the middle to score a runner from second. A double down the left field line and intentional walk loaded the bases for the visitors, who punched a single through the left side to tally two more runs to increase their lead to 7-1 going into the bottom of the eighth. BILLY TIGAR drew a leadoff walk to begin the stanza, with MATT KALISKE reaching on a fielding error to put a pair on for JOHN TOMSHO, who singled through the left side to load the bases. The Owls generated a fielder's choice on a ground ball to end the threat.
• The visitors plated their final tally of the day right after, leading off the ninth with a double down the left field line, a runner that would come around to score during the next at-bat on a single up the middle. Montclair cut into the gap in the home half, as Levis singled through the left side with ZACH STEARNS getting hit by a pitch to put two on. A wild pitch moved them both into scoring position, with CHASE FISCHER ripping a single down the left field line on a full count to clear the bases and make the gap five. The Owls recorded the final out of the day during the next at-bat, however, to seal the victory.

INSIDE THE RESULTS

• Levis recorded his third multi-hit performance over his last four contests, with Fischer driving in a pair of runs on two hits.
• Wansaw drove in his 13th run of the campaign on two hits, notching his sixth multi-hit game of the year.
• Tigar's hit increased his hitting streak to 25 games dating back to April 18, 2025. During that stretch, he has amassed 50 hits and 40 RBI, leading the New Jersey Athletic Conference in both categories this season.
• O'Brien (10 games), Tomsho (seven games), and LUKAS EGENHAUSER (six games) all extended their hitting streaks during the afternoon. Stearns has recorded a hit in each of his last three games.
• COLIN DOWLEN got the start on the mound for the Red Hawks, throwing four and two thirds while striking out five batters.

FROM THE BALLPARK

"Credit to Westfield State, they came out with energy and their starter did a nice job against our lineup. Tomorrow we will look to get back to winning baseball." - Head Coach Dave Lorber

UP NEXT

The Red Hawks will host Westfield State for game two of their weekend set on Saturday, March 21. First pitch from Yogi Berra Stadium is scheduled for 12:00 PM.