Little Falls, NJ – Senior designated hitter
GEORGE GALLAGHER and junior third baseman
CRAIG CONWAY each drove in three runs as fifth-ranked Montclair State made it 11 straight victories with a 10-6 win over Kean University at Yogi Berra Stadium on Monday afternoon.
Senior right hander
GREG BELSON tossed 6 1/3 innings of relief for the Red Hawks (24-3-1, 12-1 NJAC), who swept their season set from the Cougars adding the win to an 11-8 triumph in Union on April 7. Junior center fielder
FRANK LONGO went 1-for-5 as he extended his hitting streak to 18 games.
Chris Eickhorst had three hits and an RBI for Kean (16-9, 4-8 NJAC).
The Cougars struck for four runs in the top of the first against MSU starter
COREY HAMMAN. PaulCrivello drove in the first run with fielder's choice and a single by Eickhorst made it a 2-0 games. Two batters later, Jamie Ioviero doubled to left center scoring two more as Kean led 4-0. Belson came in from the bullpen and limited any further damage getting a strikeout to end the inning.
MSU sliced the lead in half in the bottom of the first.
CHRIS BARAN doubled with one out and scored as Conway tripled to right-center field. Longo delivered a two-out RBI single making the score, 4-2.
FRANK FRANCIA doubled in a run in the second and scored on a sac fly by
JEFF SCHRIBER, knotting the game at 4-4.
The Red Hawks would take the lead in the third. Baran walked, stole second and scored on another RBI triple from Conway, who came home on
GEORGE GALLAGHER's ground out giving MSU a 6-4 advantage.
Eickhorst made it a one-run contest in the sixth scoring on a double-play ball, however MSU answered with three runs in its half.
MARC HOUSER scored on a twin killing and Conway collected his third RBI on a base hit to left. Gallagher followed with a run-scoring single as Montclair led 9-5.
Kean pushed across a run the eighth which was answered by the Red Hawks in their half on Gallagher's sacrifice fly.
Belson improved to 7-0 on the season as he allowed four hits with four strikeouts.
Montclair State plays again on Tuesday, April 25 heading to Reading, PA for a matchup with Albright College.