Stevens Institute of Technology’s baseball team came to Yogi Berra Stadium looking to beat the red-hot Montclair State University team that had won their last three. Stevens would win in clutch fashion 9-8 coming down to the bottom of the ninth as Montclair couldn’t pull any last-minute heroics to keep the game alive.
Montclair Baseball came into this game 14-6 and Stevens came into this game 9-9. The Redhawks swept last week’s round robin.
1st Inning
Stevens batted first but had little success with their first two hitters but found life trying to keep the inning alive as Dylan Fishbough hit a single through the center line that seemed to give Stevens some life. Liam DeRuberti hit another ball down the middle getting a single and Fishbough to third. Stevens looked to have some life as J. Reichlin singled to center field and both Fishbough and DeRuberti scored making it a 2-0 ball game. Stevens hit a foul ball that was caught and Stevens was up early 2-0 going into the bottom of the first.
Jonah Swarts had similar success on his first two at bats as the Red Hawks keeping both batters on base. Marcus Johnson batted third on the rotation for Montclair and hit a single right past Swarts, getting Montclair on base. But to no further success, a pop fly was caught and the Redhawks remained trailing.
2nd Inning
Evan Wood again made quick work of Stevens’ first two batters with ease but like clockwork as both rolled to first baseman Billy Tigar. Evan Pravato of Stevens hit a single to left field, getting Stevens on base. Victor Schilleci continued Stevens’ contact with the ball as he hit a single deep into right field. Stevens’ momentum continued as E. Somers singled down the right field line, grabbing an RBI and helping Pravato score. After going down another run, Wood was taken out and out of the bullpen came Sebastion Ecker. Another pop fly into right field that was caught would end the inning for Stevens being up 3-0.
Michael Murphy of the Redhawks was able to grab a base hit with a hit into center left field. Murphy would end up stealing second base while Chris Gonzalo was at bat. Gonzalo would hit a bomb up center field helping Murphy score to make the game 3-1. Lukas Egenhauser hit a dart again up center getting himself on base but Stevens would catch a pop fly stopping Montclair from getting on the board anymore in the inning going into the 3rd inning with Stevens being up 3-1.
3rd Inning
After 2 quick outs Kieran O’Brien was hit by a pitch by Ecker and advanced to third. Other than that, it was a quick inning for Stevens as they hit a ball straight to 1st base for their third out.
Montclair started their at bat positively as Zach Sterns was walked. Sterns tried to steal second but was tagged before he reached 2nd base. Johnson was also walked as newly subbed pitcher for Stevens William Sotiropoulos walked the first two batters he faced. Chase Fischer hit a ball toward second base but Stevens made a beautiful double play to end the inning.
4th Inning
Stevens Provato walked on Stevens’ first at bat with one out on the board. Other than that Montclair fielded very well keeping Stevens off the scorecard.
Montclair led off the bottom of the 4th with 2 quick outs. DH, Matt Shuet, couldn’t get on base either leaving that fourth inning dry with neither team scoring.
5th Inning
Nick Desiderio was called to the mound from the bullpen but gave up a bomb double to Stevens, Fishbough. DeRuberti hit one into right field that got a single and sent Fishbough to third. Desiderio survived the inning as the Redhawks got the third out.
Montclair had a similar start to the inning as Gonzalo was walked on Montclair’s first at bat and so did Egenhauser. Jared Levis hit a single and Gonzola was tagged out at third. A humongous turning point for Montclair occurred after Gonzola scored from a single off of Lewis, Fischer homered a ball all the way into center right field getting an RBI and sending both men on base home as Montclair finally climbed out of the hole making the score 5-3 Montclair going into the sixth.
6th Inning
Stevens had trouble answering back after a huge inning from Montclair even with Schilleci getting a deep double, other than that not much action for Stevens in the 6th inning.
Montclair did take advantage of their momentum. Gonzalo did hit an RBI single allowing Briggs to score which made the score 6-3 and Montclair led headed into the seventh inning.
7th Inning
DeRuberti fired back for Steven’s hitting an RBI homer into left field that got Stevens back within two runs of the lead. Reichlin would end up being walked and advanced to third after Tonina singled to center field. Provato would hit a single to left field and give the go ahead for Reichlin to score which made it only a one run game. Montclair escaped the inning by the skin of their teeth with only a lead of 6-5
For Montclair, Johnson singled, hitting one to second base. Fischer again hit a bomb that was caught but sacrificed the hit to get Johnson home that gave Montclair a 7-5 lead. Tigar did single up the middle but was tagged out as he tried to steal second. That would be the last chance the Redhawks get in the 7th as they would get their third out.
8th Inning
Stevens came out firing with Fishbough scoring another run after DeRuberti was tagged out. Stevens would score off of a single from DeRuberti sending Fishbough home while he was on 3rd base making the deficit only 7-6.
A quick three and out followed for Montclair as they failed to capture a run this inning that would end up biting them in the ninth inning as Montclair couldn’t extend the lead.
9th inning
The 9th inning was insanity as with 2 outs Stevens, in a movie like ending, with a man on first and second base, Schilleci homered the second pitch he saw into right field as Montclair fielders and spectators sat in shock as Steven’s dugout went bananas. This extended the lead 9-7.
Montclair was able to score with bases loaded making the lead only 9-8 for Steven’s but they couldn’t finish the job as Gonzalo struck out and Montclair fell in this back and forth affair.
