Montclair State University erupted for a pair of 11th inning runs to defeat the University of Mary Washington, 6-4, on Friday afternoon at Dickinson Stadium in the opener of a four-game series. The Eagles slip to 1-2 on the season.
After three scoreless innings to start the game, the Red Hawks reached the scoreboard first, with a bunt single, followed by a pair of walks and a two-run single.
The Eagles would quickly tie the score in the bottom of the fourth. Junior Stephen Johnston opened the frame with a walk, and sophomore Christian Hague followed with a single. Mason Riser provided a sacrifice bunt, and Nicholas Bass followed with a sacrifice fly. Kevin France provided an two-out single to knot the score.
UMW would forge ahead with a pair of runs in the sixth. Riser led off with a single, and Bass followed with another hit. France advanced the runners with a sacrifice, and Lyons provided a pinch-hit double to center to put the Eagles ahead.
Montclair State rallied with a pair of runs in the top of the ninth to tie the score. The Eagles had the winning run at third in the ninth, as Ramsis Ruiz connected for a two-out triple, but he was stranded.
The Red Hawks started the 11th inning with an infield single, followed by a stolen base. Another single pushed across one run, and after an error, a sacrifice fly added another.
Mark Smith singled and doubled to lead the Eagles, with Bass and Hague each adding two hits. Jonathan Truba took the loss in relief, allowing two runs in one inning with two hits, no walks, and no strikeouts.
The two teams will play a noon doubleheader on Saturday.