LITTLE FALLS, NJ – In a game marked by big innings and back-and-forth scoring, the SUNY Poly baseball team came up just short against the Montclair State Red Hawks, falling 16-12 in a non-conference matchup. Eight different Wildcats drove in runs, and three players registered three hits each.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
The Wildcats struck first with a three-run frame in the second, highlighted by Derek Menechino's two-RBI single through the right side and an RBI hit-by-pitch drawn by Quinn Hill with the bases loaded.
Montclair State responded in the bottom of the second, erupting for six runs to take the lead. Jared Levis doubled in two RBIs, and Marcus Johnson brought in another run with a sacrifice fly. A fielding error by SUNY Poly allowed a few more unearned runs to score, and the Red Hawks went ahead 6-3.
After recording his first career hit in the top of the third, Luke Landis notched his first career RBI, driving in Chris Martin on a single through the right side. Derek Holmes added another run in the inning on a sacrifice fly to cut Montclair State's lead to 7-5.
Montclair State rattled off a big inning in the bottom of the fourth on three walks, two hit-by-pitches, a two-RBI double by Lukas Egenhauser, and a sacrifice fly, plating a total of four, making it an 11-5 game.
The Red Hawks extended their lead in the fifth, scoring five more runs to push their advantage to 11.
The 'Cats chipped five runs off the lead in the sixth on an offensive explosion that saw the team bat around. Derek Menechino started the inning with a single up the middle. Luke Landis knocked his first extra-base hit of his career into the left-center field gap to set the table for Derek Holmes, who drove in Menechino with a single to left field. Ethan Merone followed with an RBI base knock to bring home Landis. Brody Liddy and Christopher Martin had back-to-back RBI singles to cut the lead to seven, and Quinn Hill drew an RBI walk to score Colin Williams.
The Wildcats added another run in the seventh on a Colin Williams double to right-center and another in the ninth on a fielder's choice, but the deficit was too large to overcome down the stretch.
Colin Dowlen earned the win for Montclair State. He threw an inning and a third, allowing two runs and striking out three.
Aaron Kifer took the loss for the Wildcats. He allowed four earned runs over three innings and had a pair of strikeouts.
Maddox Garvey pitched 1.2 scoreless innings in relief. Connor Marcello threw a perfect 7th and 8th innings while striking out a pair of batters.
NOTABLE PERFORMERS:
- Ethan Merone led the Wildcats at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a pair of walks, an RBI, and three runs scored.
- Colin Williams was great at the dish, going 3-for-5 with a double and two RBIs.
- Luke Landis had three hits, including a double, and drove in a run in his Wildcat debut.
- Derek Menechino had a big two-RBI single in the top of the second inning. He finished the day 2-for-5 with two RBIs and a run scored.
- Ryan Pelton, Derek Holmes, Brody Liddy, and Christopher Martin each recorded a hit in the game. Holmes's sixth-inning single was his first in a Wildcat uniform.
- Maddox Garvey was solid in his first relief appearance of the season. He got the Wildcats out of a sticky situation in the fifth, recording two outs on three pitches to stop the bleeding. He threw 1.2 scoreless innings.
- Connor Marcello was also great in his season debut, striking out two and not allowing a hit in two innings.
UP NEXT:
The Wildcats are scheduled for a three-game set with SUNY Canton next weekend. The Wildcats are 17-9 all-time against the Roos and won their last matchup 29-3 on April 23rd of last year.
