Box Score
TROY, N.Y. – Freshman designated hitter Mike Ercolano (Vernon, NJ/Vernon Township) went 4 for 5 with six runs batted in to lead to Montclair St. to a 16-11 victory over the 10th-ranked Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) baseball team, this afternoon at Robison Field. With the win, the visiting Red Hawks improve to 15-11 on the season, while home side falls to 21-4 overall.
Montclair St. jumped out to a fast start, scoring 10 runs in the first two innings. Leadoff hitter Michael Nunes (Hazlet, NJ/Raritan) reached on an error to lead off the first and advanced to second on a groundout. He then stole third and scored on another RPI miscue, as the throw to third skipped into leftfield. Jeff Miller (Wyckoff, NJ/Ramapo) then singled and was driven in on a home run by Rob Bowness (Sparta, NJ/Seton Hall Prep), giving the visitors a 3-0 first inning lead.
After Rensselaer scored two in the bottom of first, the visiting Red Hawks added seven runs in the second. The outburst was highlighted by a two-hit inning from Ed Kloepping (Pennsville, NJ/Pennsville), who singled and scored to lead things off, and later doubled home the final run of the stanza. Andrew Himmelfarb (Nyack, NY/Nyack) also had a big inning, hitting a two-run home run; his third of the year.
The hosts fought back to tie the game, plating three in the third, two in the fourth and three in the fifth. Stevan Slusher (Pedricktown, NJ/Penns Grove) and Matt Muscatiello (Kinderhook, NY/Ichabod Crane) each provided run-scoring doubles in the fifth, with Muscatiello’s two-bagger tying the game at 10 apiece.
Montclair St. took back the lead in the top of the sixth inning after an error, a walk and a base hit loaded the bases for Ercolano. His two-RBI single to left scored two runs, and a third scored on an overthrow, putting the visitors ahead for good a 13-10.
Ercolano drove in two more runs with a double off the fence, as Montclair St. scored three more times in the seventh. Ercolano finished the game 4 for 5 with two doubles, a run scored and six runs batted in. Bowness went 2 for 4 with a home run, two runs and two RBI, while Stephen Piscitello (Hauppauge, NY/Hauppauge) ended the afternoon 1 for 4 with two runs and three RBI.
Winning pitcher Jairo Mendez (Kearny, NJ/Kearny) threw two innings in relief, allowing three runs on five hits, with a walk and a strikeout. He improves to 2-1 on the year.
RPI sophomore John Dreimiller (Ticonderoga, NY/Ticonderoga) took loss, surrendering six runs (two earned) on seven hits and a walk. He also had two strikeouts. Offensively, the Red Hawks were led by Patrick Reardon (Troy, NY/LaSalle Institute) who went 2 for 5 with a double and four RBI.
The Red Hawks return to action on Saturday and Sunday, with a home-and-home series against area-rival Union, hosting the Dutchmen in a twin bill on Saturday (12pm), before playing a road doubleheader on Sunday at Joe Bruno Stadium (12pm).
