Jersey City, NJ – The #21/24 Montclair State University Baseball team compiled 20 runs on 19 hits en route to its fifth consecutive victory, surpassing NJCU 20-3 on Friday afternoon.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Red Hawks (25-7, 9-3 NJAC) struck right away as ZACH STEARNS singled to right field and advanced to third on an error, coming around to score during the next at-bat on a double to right center from CHASE FISCHER. After a flyout pushed Fischer to third, a throwing error by the second baseman plated the second marker of the stanza to double the lead. NJCU slashed the gap in half in their half of the second, with Montclair punching right back in the following inning. Stearns, Fischer, and MATT KALISKE loaded the bases on three-straight at-bats, leading to an RBI single from DANNY O'BRIEN to tack on a run. Later in the third, MICHAEL WANSAW JR. notched a sacrifice fly to center field to push the advantage to three.
• Montclair retired nine of the next ten batters over a three-inning span to hold the difference, breaking the game open in the top of the seventh. Kaliske led off the stanza with a double through the right side, advancing to third during the ensuing at-bat on a single from O'Brien to place runners on the corners. JOHN TOMSHO tallied an infield single to plate a run, forcing a pitching change from the Gothic Knights. Wansaw nudged the lead to 6-1 right after on a single through the right side, with LUKAS EGENHAUSER plating a pair of markers two batters later on a hit to right field to make the gap seven. Following the third pitching change of the inning, JARED LEVIS drew a walk with Stearns being hit by a pitch to load the bases for Fischer, who drew a walk of his own to bring in the fifth run of the inning. Kaliske registered a sacrifice fly to left field to push Montclair into double figures with the final tally of the seventh.
• The Red Hawks added to their lead in the eighth, as CHRIS GONZALO ripped a double to right center to drive in Wansaw. Egenhauser drew a walk as he and Gonzalo moved into scoring position on a failed pickoff attempt. Levis brought in Gonzalo on a groundout and JOEY NOLAN plated Egenhauser on a single to right center to make the score 13-1. The Gothic Knights scored two runs in the home half of the stanza, but the Red Hawks countered again with another big inning in the ninth. Kaliske led off the stanza with a home run, with Tomsho and Egenhauser recording RBI singles to nudge the gap to 13. JAKE LOBUE reached on a fielder's choice that allowed another run to score, and DYLAN BRIGGS drew a bases loaded walk a few at-bats later to add another marker. VINNY AGNELLO drew a bases loaded walk of his own, with CHRISTIAN PETINO JR. notching a hit-by-pitch as the pair brought in the final runs of the day to make the score 20-3.

INSIDE THE RESULTS

• Wansaw led the way offensively for the Red Hawks, matching his season-best of four hits to go along with a pair of runs batted in. He has recorded a hit in each of his last five contests.
• Fischer collected two hits, two walks, and two runs batted in on the day to add to his well-rounded week at the plate. Kaliske tallied a multi-hit and multi-RBI day of his own, ripping his fourth home run of the campaign.
• O'Brien tallied his fifth consecutive multi-hit game and 14th of his freshman season. He has amassed 13 hits over his last five games, driving in 10 runs during that span. 
• Tomsho notched a pair of hits to extend his hitting streak to nine games, recording a hit in 20 of his 22 collegiate games. 
• Egenhauser registered his fourth multi-hit performance over his last five games, driving in a trio of runs. Stearns added his 10th multi-hit game of the year.
• LoBue and Agnello each recorded their first collegiate RBI during the contest, with Gonzalo notching his first of the season.
• Montclair totaled 20 runs on 19 hits, marking the 23rd time in which it has recorded double-digit hits this season. The Red Hawks have scored 10 or more runs in 19 games this season, reaching 20 three times.
• For the season, Montclair leads the New Jersey Athletic Conference in runs (345), hits (391), on-base percentage (.470), slugging percentage (.503), and batting average (.360).
• The Red Hawks have won five consecutive games for the third time during the 2026 campaign.

FROM THE BALLPARK

"Great overall day from our team, we were able to get a lot of contributions at the plate throughout the entire lineup. We will look to continue the momentum tomorrow on the road with a quick turnaround." - Head Coach Dave Lorber

UP NEXT

The Red Hawks will travel south for a doubleheader against Rutgers-Camden on Saturday, April 18. First pitch from Camden, NJ is scheduled for 11:30 AM and 2:30 PM.