Port Charlotte, FL - Junior lefthander Dylan Papa (South Plainfield, NJ, South Plainfield) scattered seven hits and struck out eight while senior third baseman Stephen Nappe (Edison, NJ, Edison) provided the only runs with a two-run homer as Montclair State blanked two-time defending national champion and No. 3 Marietta College, 2-0 in the Snowbird Classic on Sunday.

Papa (2-0) picked up his second win of the season as Montclair State improved to 2-1 in capturing the first of its six games as the Snowbird Classic. It is also the second straight season that MSU shut out Marietta as Sean Hille beat the Pioneers 4-0.

Papa faced four batters over the minimum as he recorded his registered a shutout in his second straight start. The lefty five-hit Rowan on April 14 in a 3-0 win before missing the remainder of the season with appendicitis. Papa threw 4 1/3 innings allowing two unearned runs in the Red Hawks' season opener at Washington College (MD).

Papa needed to be sharp as counterpart Jason Byers was equally tough striking out seven and walking one in eight innings of work. Byers (0-1) allowed only two hits however one of those proved to be the difference in the game.

After three scoreless innings, Montclair junior shortstop Cody Pace (Milltown, NJ, Spotswood) led off the fourth inning with a double down the left field line. Third baseman Michael Rizzo (Lyndhurst, NJ, St. Mary's (Rutherford)) sacrificed Pace to third to get the first run 90 feet closer. But that would not matter as Nappe drilled a shot over the left field fence for his first home run of the season and a 2-0 Montclair State lead.

Those two hits would be the only ones MSU would collect as Byers and reliever Mike Fulton retired the next 14 Red Hawks in a row and allowed just one baserunner the rest of the way.

Meanwhile Papa kept Marietta off the board and got outs when he needed them the most as he allowed only six singles and a double in is complete-game effort. He recorded the first out in six of the nine innings and maneuvered his way around any potential threats.

Geers led off the bottom of the fifth with a base hit but a pop up, fielder's choice and fly out got Papa out othe finning. In the bottom of th eighth, Papa gave up a leadoff single to Alex Toth but got a foul pop up for the first out. A sacrifice moved Toth to second but Papa ended that opportunity by striking out pinch-hitter Zach Bukiewicz to maintain the 2-0 lead. 

Marietta's last and perhaps best chance to reach Papa came in the bottom of the ninth. Jordan Grilliot, who went 2-for-4, lined a double down the right field line to open the inning. Papa though got the next two hitters and then punctuated his outstanding performance with a strikeout for the final out.

The Red Hawks are back in action at the Snowbird Classic on Monday, March 11 as they face Heidelberg at 10:30 am.