Little Falls,NJ - Senior shortstop BRIAN ELLERSON (Bayonne, NJ/HudsonCatholic) had two hits and drove in three runs as Montclair State,ranked fourth in Division III, posted a 10-4 victory over DeSales University in its home opener at Yogi Berra Stadium on Thursday afternoon.

Freshman centerfielder ETHAN BOYD (Perth Amboy, NJ/Perth Amboy) had two hits and two RBI for the Red Hawks (7-3), who have won three straight. BRETT VARGO (Waldwick, NJ/Waldwick) and DAN FRATANTORO (Sewell, NJ/Washington Township) each homered for the Bulldogs (7-5), who had their five-game winning streak snapped.

DeSales took a1-0 lead in the first inning as Vargo reached on an error, stole second and scored as JULIO ACOSTA (San Juan, Puerto Rico/Perkiomen School) delivered and RBI single. Montclair got the run back in its half of the inning as Boyd drew a leadoff walk, went to second on a failed pickoff attempt, and scored as Ellerson grounded ou tto short.

Montclair built a 3-1 lead after three innings on a run-scoring triple by Boyd inthe second and an RBI ground out by JOE GIACOMIAZZIO (East Brunswick,NJ/East Brunswick) in the third. The Red Hawks then exploded for six runs in the fourth. Boyd collected an RBI double for a three-run lead before Ellerson made the score 6-1 with a double of his own,driving in two runs. SHAWN DYCKMAN (Spotswood, NJ/Spotswood) added an RBI double and Giacomiazzio a sacrifice fly for an 8-1 advantage.Dyckman capped off the scoring as he came home on a balk.

The Bulldogs got their runs in the seventh as Vargo belted a two-run homer and Fratantoro followed with a solo shot.

Kevin Rakowski (Rockaway, NJ/Morris Hills) picked up the win. Rakowski (1-2) went the first six innings allowing four hits and one unearned run. The righthander struck out six and walked one. TIM GOMBAR (Shillington,PA/Governor Mifflin) took the loss falling to 0-2.