Montclair, NJ – The #21/24 Montclair State University Baseball team took down NJCU 6-1 on Thursday afternoon at Yogi Berra Stadium to notch its fourth-straight victory.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Red Hawks (24-7, 8-3 NJAC) took the lead in the bottom of the second inning, kicking off the stanza with a leadoff triple down the right field line from DANNY O'BRIEN. During the next at-bat, O'Brien came in to score on a wild pitch, with JOHN TOMSHO ripping a single up the middle later in the frame to put another runner on. After Tomsho stole second, MICHAEL WANSAW JR. doubled to center field to put two runners in scoring position for LUKAS EGENHAUSER, who plated the second tally of the day on a sacrifice fly. After BRENDAN ROCHE retired the side in order in the third, Montclair added to their lead in the home half of the inning on a groundout from O'Brien that plated ZACH STEARNS from third.
• NJCU went down in order again in the top of the fourth, with Wansaw reaching on a fielding error on a deep-hit ball to center field that allowed him to advance to second. During the next at-bat, Egenhauser punched a single to right field to drive in Wansaw to increase the lead to four. The Gothic Knights loaded the bases with no outs in the fifth, but Roche induced a ground ball to turn a crucial 1-2-3 double play to take out a run at the plate. After NJCU drew a walk, Montclair got out of the inning with no runs allowed on a flyout in foul territory. CHASE FISCHER launched a leadoff home run to left field to kick off the bottom of the fifth, increasing the home lead to five. The Red Hawks loaded the bases in the ensuing inning, but could not convert as NJCU halted the threat.
• The visitors broke through for their only run of the day in the seventh, forcing a pitching change from the Red Hawks after stringing together three consecutive hits. A hit batter after the break would plate a run, but a double play ended the stanza. The final tally of the day came in the home half of the inning, as MATT KALISKE was hit by a pitch with O'Brien singling through the right side. After a pitching change, a sacrifice bunt moved both runners into scoring position. Tomsho was hit by a pitch, with Wansaw plating Kaliske on a sacrifice fly to left field. JOE PACCIONE faced the minimum over the final two innings to seal the victory for Montclair.

INSIDE THE RESULTS

• Egenhauser notched a pair of runs batted in to go along with a hit, recording at least one of each in his last four games.
• Fischer's home run was his second in his last four games and fifth of the campaign. He has sent 13 over the fence during his two-year Montclair career. He also drew a season-best three walks for the afternoon.
• O'Brien collected two hits and a run batted in, totaling 11 hits and nine RBI over his last four games.
• Tomsho continued his stellar freshman year with his 29th and 30th hits of the campaign, extending his hitting streak to eight games. He has a hit in 19 of his 21 collegiate appearances.
• Wansaw added a hit and run batted in, reaching base safely in each of Montclair's last four contests.
• Stearns set the Division III single season record for hit-by-pitches at 34. He is also four away from setting a new all-time Division III career record.
• Roche spun a career-best six and a third innings, punching out four batters while allowing just one run en route to his first victory of the season. Paccione allowed just one hit over the final two and two thirds to close out the day.
• Since the start of the 2020 campaign, Montclair is 92-24 at Yogi Berra Stadium, including a 17-2 mark this season.

FROM THE BALLPARK

"Great job by our pitching staff today to help us secure the victory. We will prepare for a quick turnaround on the road tomorrow." - Head Coach Dave Lorber

UP NEXT

The Red Hawks will begin a stretch with six of their last seven games on the road, beginning with the return game against NJCU on Friday, April 17. First pitch from Jersey City, NJ is scheduled for 3:30 PM.