High Point, NC – The Montclair State University Baseball team staged a rally in the final frame, but was edged by #9 Adrian on Sunday afternoon to close out its weekend slate at the Greensboro Triad Invitational.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Red Hawks (6-3) fell behind early as the Bulldogs struck for two runs in the first on a two-run home run to left center. Montclair would answer immediately in the home half of the stanza, kicking it off with a leadoff single from JARED LEVIS. On a perfectly executed hit-and-run during the next at-bat, ZACH STEARNS punched a single through to drive in Levis to cut the gap in half. The Red Hawks placed two on later in the inning, but Adrian was able to escape the jam with the score intact at 2-1. In the top of the second, Adrian placed the first two batters on, leading to a groundout and sacrifice fly that plated a pair of runs to nudge the difference to three.
• Montclair chipped away at the deficit in their half of the third, as CHASE FISCHER drew a bases-loaded walk to bring in Levis. Adrian countered with a marker of their own in the top of the fourth, as they loaded the bases leading to a hit batter that brought in their fifth run of the afternoon. The Red Hawks got within one immediately after, as LUKAS EGENHAUSER singled and stole second, putting a runner in scoring position for Stearns to bring home on a double to center field. BILLY TIGAR rattled off a double of his own to drive in Stearns and make the score 5-4 after four frames.
• Adrian expanded the gap in the top of the fifth, loading the bases right away off a single, walk, and error. Another error would plate a run during the next at-bat, with a fielder's choice bringing in another to make the score 7-4. The Bulldogs added their final tally of the afternoon in the sixth on a solo home run to left field. Back-to-back singles from MATT KALISKE and DANNY O'BRIEN put two on for the Red Hawks with two outs in the seventh, with the pair advancing into scoring position on a balk. Adrian escaped, however, to maintain their lead going into the stretch run of the contest.
• With Egenhauser on second in the eighth, Levis singled to center field to cut the deficit to three. Montclair staged a rally in the ninth to try and equalize, as O'Brien and Fischer notched hits to put two runners on for JAXON GRANT, who recorded another crucial at-bat as a pinch hitter this season, doubling down the left field line to bring in O'Brien from second. During the next at-bat, JOHN TOMSHO drove in Montclair's seventh run of the day on a sacrifice fly. With two outs and the tying run on third, Adrian generated a flyout to end the game and escape with the victory.

INSIDE THE RESULTS

• Levis put in another strong day at the plate with his second-straight three-hit performance and fourth multi-hit day of the campaign. O'Brien recorded a season-high three hits, collecting six during the weekend.
• Stearns notched a pair of hits and runs batted in to help pace the Red Hawks offensively, with Fischer recording two hits of his own to go along with a RBI.
• Egenhauser's two-hit day marked his first multi-hit game of the season, driving in a campaign-best two runs.
• Tigar extended his season-opening hitting streak to nine games, amassing a team-leading 15 during that stretch while also leading the group in runs batted in with 10.
• Tomsho made his first collegiate start and tallied the first hit of his career. MICHAEL WANSAW JR. recorded his first start of the season and first since coming back from injury, with TYLER DELL making his collegiate debut in relief for the Red Hawks.
• Montclair amassed a season-best 16 hits, finishing off the weekend with 39 across the three-game slate.

FROM THE BALLPARK

"When you play a quality club, you cannot give free opportunities and mental mistakes. They capitalized on that and we need to clean that up to win that game." - Head Coach Dave Lorber

UP NEXT

The Red Hawks will host FDU-Florham on Tuesday, March 10. First pitch from Yogi Berra Stadium is scheduled for 3:00 PM.