Montclair, NJ – The #18/20 Montclair State University baseball team edged William Paterson 7-5 on Friday afternoon to complete the regular season sweep of the Pioneers.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Red Hawks (21-4, 3-1 NJAC) put the first three batters of the game on base, including hits from MILES FEASTER and SAM ANGELO. Later in the inning, MICHAEL MURPHYdoubled to left field to plate the first two tallies of the contest.
• The Pioneers answered with three of their own in the same frame on a bases-clearing triple. William Paterson added to their advantage in the second, as a single up the middle brought in two more runs. 
• NICK DESIDERIO entered the game in relief in the second and struck out four of the first six batters he faced. He continued the run into the next two innings, adding five more punchouts to his total.
• Montclair mounted a comeback in the sixth, placing the first two batters on base for MAX MCLOUGHLIN, who singled to center field to bring in Murphy from third. REECE MALEK singled during the next at-bat to cut the margin to one, and Angelo recorded a bases loaded walk later in the frame to level the contest. MATT SHUHET doubled down the left field line to give the Red Hawks the lead at 7-5 and cap the rally in the inning.
• Desiderio allowed only two baserunners over the next innings, setting up CHRISTIAN ADDOTTA, who tossed two scoreless frames to seal the road victory for Montclair.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Murphy led Montclair with a game-high three hits to go along with two runs batted in. Shuhet was the other Red Hawk with a multi-RBI contest with his double in the sixth.
• Montclair held a 12-6 advantage in hits, with four Red Hawks tallying multi-hit games.
• Desiderio earned the victory in the contest, tossing 5.1 shutout innings, allowing just one hit while striking out a career-high 11. It marked the second time this season a Montclair pitcher has struck out 11 batters, with MICHAEL TIMBERLAKE reaching the mark against Trinity (CT) on March 16.
• Addotta notched the first save of his career, striking out two over two scoreless innings pitched.
• Montclair has won five consecutive contests against the Pioneers, and has swept William Paterson in their regular season series in each of the past three seasons.

FROM THE FIELD

"What a performance by NICK DESIDERIO! Every conference win is big and sometimes you have to find ways to win when you don't play your best. Very proud of this team and how they never give up." - Head Coach Dave Lorber

UP NEXT

The Red Hawks will return home to host #10/11 Rowan University in a doubleheader on Saturday, April 6. First pitch from Yogi Berra Stadium is scheduled for 11:30 AM and 2:30 PM.