Camden, NJ – The #21/24 Montclair State University Baseball team extended its winning streak to seven games on Saturday afternoon as it collected a doubleheader sweep of Rutgers-Camden.

The Red Hawks (27-7, 11-3 NJAC) notched a 17-6 victory in the opening contest before taking down the Scarlet Raptors 7-2 in the second game of the day.

HOW IT HAPPENED (GAME ONE)

• Rutgers-Camden jumped ahead in the home half of the first inning, putting a runner in scoring position on a stolen base that would come around to score on a double to right center. The Red Hawks countered right away, loading the bases on hits by MATT KALISKE and JOHN TOMSHO coupled with a walk by DANNY O'BRIEN. After a fielder's choice shuffled the baserunners, BILLY TIGAR punched a single up the middle to push the visitors in front, 2-1. The Scarlet Raptors equalized in the fourth inning, loading the bases on an error, single, and hit-by-pitch. After a flyout for the first out of the frame, a fielder's choice plated the leveler before a groundout halted the rally. 
• Montclair broke the game open in the fifth, as O'Brien was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to nudge the go-ahead run in. Tomsho reached on a fielder's choice to bring in CHASE FISCHER from third, as MICHAEL WANSAW JR. drove in another run to increase the difference to three, 5-2. Tigar was hit by a pitch to re-load the bases for LUKAS EGENHAUSER, who registered a crucial bases-clearing double to left field to balloon the lead to six. JARED LEVIS singled during the next at-bat to put runners on the corners for ZACH STEARNS, who ripped a single through the left side for Montclair's ninth tally of the afternoon. Rutgers-Camden trimmed the deficit in their portion of the frame on a pair of RBI doubles, but an error in the top of the sixth would plate O'Brien to make the score 10-4.
• After the Scarlet Raptors climbed to within four on a single to left center that plated two runs, Montclair provided another offensive counter in the top of the seventh. Kaliske and O'Brien notched back-to-back hits ahead of Tomsho, who sent a single up the middle to drive in Kaliske from third. A fielding error by the third baseman during the next ball in play allowed O'Brien to score, with a squeeze bunt from Tigar plating the third marker of the inning to expand the lead to seven. Following a 1-2-3 home half, the Red Hawks put the game out of reach in the eighth. JAKE LOBUE scored on a wild pitch after entering the game as a pinch runner, with DYLAN BRIGGS and O'Brien moving into scoring position later in the frame on another errant throw. Wansaw singled to center field during the ensuing at-bat to nudge the lead to double-digits. Following a pitching change and a hit from CHRIS GONZALO to put runners on the corners, Egenhauser plated the final tally of the day on a single to right field.

HOW IT HAPPENED (GAME TWO)

• Levis led off game two with a single to left field, stealing second and later advancing to third on a flyout. Fischer brought him home during the next at-bat to push the Red Hawks in front in the opening stanza. Rutgers-Camden placed runners in scoring position in each of the first three innings, but CHRIS MATESIC was able to end any potential scoring opportunities. The Scarlet Raptors took the lead in the fourth, however, notching a pair of singles to kick off the frame before moving runners to second and third on a sacrifice bunt. A ground ball during the next at-bat plated the equalizer, with a wild pitch bringing home the go-ahead run for Rutgers-Camden. Stearns countered in the next inning with a single up the middle to drive in Levis to tie the game at two at the midway point.
• Montclair regained the lead in the sixth, as Wansaw singled to center field to put two runners on after Tomsho reached on a fielder's choice. A wild pitch and stolen base moved them both into scoring position, with Gonzalo drawing a walk to load the bases. Egenhauser reached on a fielder's choice of his own to plate Tomsho from third, as Levis notched a four-pitch walk to re-load the bases. In the ensuing at-bat, Stearns cleared the bases with a triple to right field to vault Montclair in front 6-2. Fischer drew a walk to put runners on the corners, but the Scarlet Raptors escaped the jam with a ground ball.
• MATT KING entered the game in relief with one out in the sixth and retired five consecutive hitters to bridge the game into the top of the eighth, where Gonzalo walked again and advanced to second on a failed pickoff attempt. Egenhauser moved him to third on a sacrifice bunt, as Gonzalo would steal home on a throw to first base following a strikeout for the final run of the day. The Scarlet Raptors went down 1-2-3 in the eighth but threatened in the bottom of the ninth, kicking off the inning with a single to induce a pitching change. A pair of walks loaded the bases, but PATRICK TEEHAN punched out two of the final three batters to seal the doubleheader sweep for the Red Hawks. 

INSIDE THE RESULTS

• Wansaw continued his strong week at the plate with six hits and three runs batted in across the doubleheader, increasing his hitting streak to seven games. During that stretch, he has collected 16 hits and has driven in seven runs.
• Levis totaled five hits, including three during the second contest for his sixth performance of the year of at least three or more.
• Tomsho added four hits and two runs batted in to his stellar freshman campaign, increasing his hitting streak to 11 games. He has recorded a hit in 22 of his 24 collegiate games.
• Stearns registered a trio of hits and five runs batted in for the day, including four in game two to match his career-high. Egenhauser finished the afternoon with three hits and five runs batted in.
• O'Brien tallied three hits and a run batted in during game one, with Kaliske notching his 13th multi-hit game of the year.
• COLIN DOWLEN got the start on the mound in the opening contest, spinning six frames while punching out a trio of batters en route to his sixth victory of the campaign. He has thrown six or more innings in four starts this season.
• Entering game one in the seventh, CHRISTIAN ADDOTTA faced the minimum the rest of the way, not allowing a baserunner and striking out two to earn his second career save and first since 2024. The three innings also marked a season-high for the junior right-hander.
• The Red Hawks collected 17 runs on 19 hits in game one, marking the 24th time in which they have recorded double-digit hits this season. Montclair has scored 10 or more runs in 20 games this season.
• Matesic tossed five and a third innings in game two, earning the victory and improving his record to 8-0 to begin his collegiate career.
• Montclair's seven game winning streak matched its longest of the season, as their 27 wins are the most since 2022 and 11 NJAC wins the most since 2023.
• The Red Hawks lead the NJAC in hits (419), batting average (.359), on-base percentage (.469), and slugging percentage (.496). They reside in the top ten nationally in hits and batting average.

FROM THE BALLPARK

"Our guys came ready to play all 18 innings. Proud of the effort and we turn our focus to the last week of the regular season." - Head Coach Dave Lorber

UP NEXT

The Red Hawks will travel to Ramapo on Thursday, April 23. First pitch from Mahwah, NJ is scheduled for 3:30 PM.