MONTCLAIR, N.J. – The Yeshiva University baseball team opened the 2020 season with a non-conference loss to Montclair State University, 17-3, at Yogi Berra Stadium on Thursday afternoon. The Red Hawks advance to 4-4, while the Maccabees fall to 0-1.
The highlight for Yeshiva came in the top of the seventh inning, when sophomore first baseman
David Kreisberg lined a two-run double to center field, scoring senior second baseman
Zachary Baly and junior right fielder
Yosef Rosenfield.
For the game, Kreisberg went 2-for-4. Senior left fielder
Aryeh Salovey lined a double in his only official at-bat. Sophomore outfielder
Avi Braun drew two walks and scored a run, while senior third baseman
Mordy Kirsch went 1-for-2 with a single. Rosenfield singled, stole a base, and scored a run. Senior center fielder
David Hanelin drew a pair of walks.
The Red Hawks came storming out of the gate, scoring three runs in each of the first two innings to take a 6-0 lead. Yeshiva had a golden opportunity to get the game closer, in the top of the third, as Baly, Hanelin, and Braun each drew a walk to load the bases, with only one out. However, Yeshiva could not capitalize, and Montclair escaped the jam without giving up a run.
YU surrendered four more runs in the bottom half of the third. Montclair broke the game open even more in the home half of the sixth, scoring six more runs to put the Macs in a 17-0 hole.
In the top of the seventh, Rosenfield led off with a single up the middle. He stole second just prior to Baly earning a base on balls. Braun drew his second walk of the day to load the bases, with one out. That set up Kreisberg to line the ball over the center fielder's head for a double that scored two runs and spoiled the opposition's bid for a shutout. Braun scored during the next at bat, thanks to a passed ball, for Yeshiva's third run of the afternoon. It would not be enough as Montclair got the final two outs to secure the win.
On the mound, sophomore pitcher Justin Kosinski started the game and was credited with the win. Junior pitcher
Rafi Jacobs picked up the loss. Sophomore pitcher
Menachem Marks retired the only batter he faced, for the Maccabees.
Yeshiva will battle Utica College, in a non-conference doubleheader at Diamond Nation, on Sunday afternoon. First pitch is scheduled for 12:00 p.m.
