March 30, 2024

Baseball Splits Doubleheader with Ramapo in NJAC Opener

Mahwah, NJ – The Montclair State University baseball team split a doubleheader with Ramapo College to open New Jersey Athletic Conference play on Saturday afternoon.

Montclair (18-4) fell in the opening contest 7-3 and bounced back with a 10-6 victory in game two.

HOW IT HAPPENED

  • The Red Hawks tallied two runs in the top of the first to kick off game one, as Matt Kaliske singled through the right side to plate Marcus Johnson and Sam Angelo. Ramapo threatened in the bottom of the second with a runner on third, but Jack Haveson punched out the final hitter of the inning.
  • Montclair added a third marker in the third inning, as Johnson stole second which allowed Angelo to score from third on the throw. Ramapo put their first run on the board in the bottom of the stanza on an RBI single. The Roadrunners plated two more tallies in the fourth to level the contest.
  • Ramapo took their first lead of the game in the sixth with an RBI single up the middle. The Red Hawks put the leadoff man on base to start the seventh, but the Roadrunners induced a double play to prevent a rally.
  • The home side added three more runs in the bottom of the eighth to make the margin four. Montclair had a runner on third in the ninth, but Ramapo was able to hold on for the game one victory.
  • Ramapo used back-to-back doubles in the second inning of game two to break open the scoring. Later in the frame, an RBI single plated another tally, and a throwing error scored the third run of the stanza. The Red Hawks answered immediately with three runs in the third, a run capped off by an RBI hit from Ryan McKenna.
  • The Roadrunners retook the lead in the bottom of the inning on a triple to left field that scored a runner from second. Montclair once again answered in the next stanza, as Miles Feaster reached on a fielding error, plating Zach Stearns. During the next at-bat, Angelo homered to bring in three runs to make the score 7-4 in favor of the Red Hawks.
  • After McKenna doubled down the right field line to lead off the fifth, he advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on an RBI single from Joe Gisonda. Ramapo cut into the deficit the same inning on an RBI single and a fielder's choice. 
  • The Red Hawks plated two more runs in the game, as Feaster scored on a wild pitch in the sixth and Gisonda tallied another RBI single in the eighth. Ramapo threatened in the ninth, but Matt Pontari recorded two strikeouts and later forced a flyout with the bases loaded to end the game.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

  • Angelo and McKenna each finished with five hits on the day to lead the Red Hawks. Angelo had a team-high three RBI for Montclair. 
  • Kaliske and Gisonda each tallied two RBI.
  • Haveson struck out six over three and two thirds innings pitched in the first game, with Michael Timberlake punching out five over four frames. Pontari earned the save in game two, tossing four innings while striking out six.
  • Montclair has won five of its last six contests dating back to Friday, March 22. They collected 23 hits over the two games.

FROM THE FIELD

Coming Soon.

UP NEXT

The Red Hawks will return home to face Stevens in their non-conference finale on Monday, April 1. First pitch from Yogi Berra Stadium is scheduled for 3:00 PM.