Sophomore Drew Rice (Littleton, Colo./Kent Denver) smashed a pinch hit, 3-run homer in the seventh inning, breaking a 7-7 tie which would end up giving Denison and first-year head coach Mike Clark their first victory of the season, 10-8 over Montclair State (N.J.) in Demorest, Ga.

The Big Red took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first when senior designated hitter Aidan Lucas (Evanston, Ill./Evanston Township) blasted his 11th career home run.  Montclair would respond with a four-run second inning as they touched up DU starter Tyler Vaske (West Chester, Ohio/Lakota West) for four runs off three hits.  The biggest blow being a bases loaded double by catcher Mike Ercolano that cleared the bases.

Now trailing 7-5 heading into the bottom of the seventh, Denison third baseman Matt Forgatch (San Marino, Calif./San Marino) drew a walk and proceeded to steal both second and third base.  With two outs and Forgatch at third, Zach Huttie (Cary, N.C./Athens Drive) walked and Tim Duxbury (Winnetka, Ill./New Trier) was called on to pinch run.  Montclair pitcher Michael Kaminski would commit an error with the runners on the corners, allowing Forgatch to score.  He would follow by walking his fifth batter of the game and third of the inning, sending Justin Vaske (West Chester, Ohio/Lakota West) to first and Duxbury to second.  Rookie second baseman Andrew Touhy (Wilmette, Ill./Loyola Academy) followed with a single, scoring Duxbury.

Montclair would make the call to the bullpen, replacing Kaminski with Kevin Wieme who's first batter would be Rice.  The result wasn't pretty for the Red Hawks when Rice turned on Wieme's offering for his first career home run and the biggest hit of his Denison career so far.

Montclair St. would respond with one run in the eighth but DU freshman southpaw Danny Kraus (Westlake, Ohio/Westlake) looked strong in relief of Vaske.  In his first collegiate appearance, Kraus worked four innings allowing two earned runs, three walks while striking out six.  He earned the victory while Kaminski was given the loss.

Touhy ended the day 2 for 3 with an walk, one RBI and one run scored. Overall, DU finished with eight hits and 10 runs and the defense did not commit an error.  Montclair St. also pieced together eight hits, but committed two errors.

The game was the first of three for the Big Red at the Piedmont College Spring Break Challenge.  DU will take on the host, Piedmont, at 6 p.m. on Saturday.  On Sunday, they will face North Carolina Wesleyan at 11 a.m. before returning to Granville.