Montclair, NJ – Junior shortstop Hayden Reyes lined a double down the right field line with two outs in the bottom of the 10th inning lifting Montclair State to a 9-8 victory over Cabrini College at Yogi Berra Stadium on Monday afternoon.
Freshman Peter Cosentino finished 3-for-4 with three RBI as the Red Hawks (9-8) rallied to tie the game in the bottom of the ninth before winning it on Reyes' walk-off in the 10th. The win was MSU's second extra-inning victory this season.
Shaun Stackhouse drove in a pair of runs for the Cavaliers (17-5), who had their nine-game winning streak snapped.
Montclair State trailed 4-0 and was down 6-4 in the sixth inning when Cosentino came through with a two-out, bases-clearing double down the left field line putting the Red Hawks in front for the first time. The Cavaliers answered in the top of the seventh loading the bases with no outs however the Red Hawks were able to limit the inning to just a run as reliever Matt Cannavo struck out the final batter with runners and second and third.
Cabrini would jump back on top in the eighth as three straight singles to open the inning loaded the bases. Chris Santana drew a walk for force in a run but Cannavo limited the damage again with a strikeout and double play keeping the deficit at a run. MSU had a chance to tie the game in its half putting the first two runners on. A sacrifice moved both into scoring position however Reyes lined into a double play to end the threat.
In the bottom of the ninth, Cosentino led off with a double and Andrew Ollwether drew a walk. An error at third base on a Daniel Clemente sacrifice attempt loaded the bases. Cosentino came home with the tying run on a double play with the winning run moving to third. Cavalier reliever Tyler Ronayne struck out the next hitter sending the game into extra innings.
After Cannavo set down Cabrini in the top of the, Ronayne retired the first two hitters in the bottom of the inning before giving up a line single to left by Joe Norton. Reyes stepped to the plate and took two pitches before lining a ball down the right field line. Right fielder Tyler Norris tried to make a diving catch however the ball fell just out of his reach and rolled to the warning track. Norton came all the way around for the game-winning run.
Cannavo (1-0) got the victory logging the final 3 2/3 innings. The righthander gave up three hits and a run with three strikeouts and a walk. Christopher Walker finished with two hits, two runs scored and an RBI.
The Red Hawks return to Yogi Berra Stadium tomorrow afternoon (April 2) as it hosts FDU-Florham at 3:30 pm.