MONTCLAIR, N.J. (March 17, 2024) – Senior Kieran O'Brien recorded career-highs in runs (2), hits (2), and RBI (3) as the Stevens Institute of Technology baseball team defeated Montclair State 14-6 Sunday afternoon in a non-conference contest.

Graduate student Leo Bristow (1-1) earned first win of the season. He pitched the final four and two-thirds innings and allowed four runs on eight hits. Sophomore William Sotiropoulos started for Stevens, allowing two runs on three hits in 2.2 innings of work. He also struck out two and walked four. Junior Matt Villapiano also saw action for Stevens, as he pitched 1.1 innings. He allowed no base runners.

The Ducks (9-5) have now won three-straight after losing five in a row. Stevens improves to 8-3 in non-conference games. The Ducks are also a perfect 4-0 in true road games this year.

With the win, Stevens improves to 4-4 all-time against the Red Hawks. The Ducks have also won three of the last four against Montclair State. The Red Hawks fell to 12-2 with the loss.

The Rundown

• Montclair State scored one run in the bottom of the first to take an early lead.
• With one out in the second, junior Liam DeRubertis was hit by a pitch. He then stole second to put a run in scoring position. A few batters later, senior Frank Tonina singled to bring home DeRubertis to tie the score.
• Graduate student Ben Tobio and junior Eli Somers each singled to start the third. First-year Garret Wolf doubled in the next at-bat, which scored Tobio and moved Somers to third. Senior Christian Kreiser would later reach on an error, scoring Somers. Wolf would come home later in the inning on a sac fly to left by graduate student Michael Reyes as the Ducks took a 4-1 lead.
• The Red Hawks got one back in the bottom of the third.
• After two quick outs in the top of the fourth, O'Brien was walked and then Tobio singled as the Ducks put two runners on. Somers would then double in the next at-bat as he cleared the bases to put Stevens up 6-2.
• The Ducks added two more in the fifth. Reyes singled to get things moving for Stevens, followed by DeRubertis reaching on an error. Both runners would move into scoring positions on the throw. Senior Jack Stafford would reach on a fielder's choice to score DeRubertis in the next at-bat. The Ducks would bring another home via an O'Brien single as the score read 8-2 in favor of the road side.
• Montclair State scored once in the sixth.
• After giving up one, the Ducks responded with three in the seventh. The bases were loaded with no outs to start as Reyes hit a single, DeRubertis walked, and Stafford was hit by a pitch. Tonina would hit a sacrifice fly in the next at-bat, scoring Reyes and advancing the other two. O'Brien then delivered a double to bring both base runners home.
• Wolf struck out to begin the eighth, but Kresier followed with a single and then Reyes walked to put two runners on for the Ducks. DeRubertis then delivered a single to score Kreiser and move Reyes to third. Reyes would later score on a wild pitch as the Ducks led 13-3.
• O'Brien and Tobio each walked to start the ninth, followed by a Somers single to load the bases with no outs. Wolf would later ground into an RBI to score O'Brien to push the lead to 11.
• Montclair State got three in the bottom of the ninth, but it wasn't enough as the Ducks secured the road victory.

Top Performers

• O'Brien led the Ducks with three RBI.
• Somers picked up four hits.
• Reyes scored three times, while O'Brien, Tobio, DeRubertis, and Stafford each scored twice.
• Kreiser and DeRubertis each stole a base.
• Eight Ducks picked up a hit.

For the Opponents

• Patrick Cuccurullo (2-1) started and took the loss. He lasted only two innings and gave up four runs on five hits.
• The Red Hawks used five pitchers.
• Montclair State had four batters pick up two hits.
• Joe Gisonda and Matt Shuhet each had two RBI.
• Ryan McKenna scored twice.

Around the MAC Freedom 

• Misericordia 10, Arcadia 11 F/SAT
• King's 10, FDU-Florham 3 F/SAT
• Delaware Valley 20, DeSales 25 F/SAT
• Arcadia 4, Misericordia 12
• Arcadia vs. Misericordia 2:30 p.m.

Up Next

• Baseball returns home on Thursday as they host King's in a MAC Freedom contest. First pitch is set for 7 p.m. The Ducks are 9-0 all-time against King's. Links for live stats and video are available on stevensducks.com.