High Point, NC – Led by a grand slam from CHASE FISCHER, the Montclair State University Baseball team vaulted past Maryville 11-1 on Friday evening at Truist Point Stadium.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Red Hawks (5-2) received another strong start from COLIN DOWLEN, who punched out back-to-back batters to kick off the home half of the first and worked around a runner in scoring position with two outs. He set down the side in order in the second, generating a double play and a lineout to maintain the scoreless margin. Maryville broke through in the third, as a leadoff single would translate to a runner on third with two outs. The Scots punched a single up the middle to drive in the game's first run of the night.
• Montclair answered right back in the top of the fourth, as ZACH STEARNS would work his way to third on a stolen base and wild pitch after being hit during the second at-bat of the stanza. After Billy Tiger walked, MATT KALISKE singled through the left side to level the contest at one. DANNY O'BRIEN kept the inning moving with a single during the next at-bat, leading to a sacrifice fly from Fischer to push the Red Hawks in front. 
• After Dowlen induced three consecutive groundouts, Tigar notched a RBI single to plate JARED LEVIS to double the lead for Montclair, who would break the game open later in the fifth on a grand slam from CHASE FISCHER with two outs to make the score 7-1. Going into the home half of the fifth, Dowlen recorded two strikeouts and added to his outing in the sixth, setting down three out of four batters.
• The Red Hawks added to their lead in the ninth, as Stearns and Tigar would reach base with one out, leading to a triple to right center from Kaliske to clear the bases and vault Montclair into double figures. After JAKE LOBUE entered the game to pinch run, O'Brien drove him home on a single up the middle. Fischer would reach base during the next at-bat, and with two runners in scoring position, DYLAN BRIGGS was hit by a pitch to load the bases, but Maryville would escape the jam. The Scots could not get any closer as the Red Hawks sealed the weekend-opening victory in the bottom of the ninth.

INSIDE THE RESULTS

• Fischer's grand slam marked the second of his Montclair career as he finished the day with a trio of hits and a career-high five runs batted in. 
• Tigar extended his season-opening hit streak to seven games, notching a pair along with a run batted in. 
• Kaliske totaled four runs batted in, matching his career-best that he set twice during the 2023 campaign.
• O'Brien tallied his first collegiate multi-hit performance to round out the group offensively for the Red Hawks.
• Dowlen punched out six batters over six innings en route to his second victory on the mound of the campaign. LOGAN SHUMARD tossed the final three frames, earning his first collegiate save while striking out three batters.
• Montclair has surpassed double figures in three of its five victories this season.

FROM THE BALLPARK

"Tremendous job by COLIN DOWLEN and LOGAN SHUMARD on the mound to start the weekend. They set the tone and allowed the offense to get some timely hits to pull away. Another good challenge tomorrow vs Greensboro." - Head Coach Dave Lorber

UP NEXT

The Red Hawks will square off against Greensboro on Saturday, March 7. First pitch from Truist Point Stadium is scheduled for 1:30 PM.