Little Falls, NJ – Cortland State infielder Travis Smith finished 2-for-5 with three RBI as the Red Dragons scored runs early and late in 16-3 victory over Montclair State in the Red Hawks' home opener on Saturday afternoon.

Right fielder Ed Firpo had three hits and three RBI and Matt Christiana also drove in three runs as Cortland (9-3) put the first nine runs on the board in beating Montclair for the second consecutive meeting. The Red Dragons defeated MSU 5-1 in the NCAA Division III World Series last May.

Senior left fielder FRANK LONGO belted a solo home run for the Red Hawks (6-6), who had their modest two-game winning streak snapped.

Cortland took a 3-0 lead in the second as Steve Wanamaker and Firpo each delivered RBIs with the third run scoring on an error. B Huber singled home two runs during a four-run third inning as the
Red Dragons increased their lead to seven runs with two more coming home in the fifth on an RBI single by Larry Williams and sac fly by T Smith making the score 9-0.

Montclair State broke the shutout in the sixth as SCOTT CLARK scored on a double-play, but Cortland answered that with two runs in the seventh, including a Firpo RBI single making the score, 11-1.

The Red Hawks put a run up in their half on Longo's solo home run before the Red Dragons salted the game away in the eighth with five runs. Smith doubled in two with Christiana clearing the bases with a triple to center field. ADAM CERMINARO drove in a run in the ninth for the final Montclair State run.

Mike Howell picked up the victory as he improved to 3-1 on the year. Howell allowed a run and three hits in six innings, striking out three. Freshman left hander JEFF GOGAL (1-1) took the loss.

Montclair State looks to get back on the winning track on Tuesday, March 27 with a road contest at Wilmington College in New Castle, DE.