Little Falls,NJ - Freshman centerfielder ETHAN BOYD (Perth Amboy,NJ/Perth Amboy) homered and drove in three runs as fourth-ranked Montclair State defeated sixth-ranked SUNY Cortland, 12-6 in a battle of NCAA Division III Top 10 teams at Yogi Berra Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

JOSH MORRISON (Middlesex,NJ/Middlesex) drove in two runs for the Red Hawks (8-4), who gained split of the weekend series by scoring seven runs in the sixth inning.NATE GAGNON (Wilton, NY/South Glens Falls) drove in two runs forthe Red Dragons (6-7), who lost to MSU for the first time in thelast four meetings.

Tied at 2-2 inthe bottom of the sixth, JOE GIACOMIAZZIO (East Brunswick, NJ/EastBrunswick) and TOMMY WARTH (Secaucus, NJ/Secaucus) opened the inningwith base hits before ADAM CERMINARO (Wall, NJ/Wall) reached on a fielder's choice to load the bases. Reliever MATT MILLER (Harrison,NY/Harrison) replaced Benante and gave up a two-run single to Morrison giving MSU a 4-2 lead. Boyd then belted a 2-1 pitch over the left-field wall for a three-run homer and a 7-2 MSU advantage. BRIAN ELLERSON (Bayonne, NJ/Hudson Catholic) and GEORGE BECKER (Bayonne, NJ/Bayonne) each added RBI doubles to cap off the inning for the Red Hawks,making the score 9-2.

JEFF GOGAL (Kearny,NJ/Kearny) picked up the win to up his record to 4-0. The lefty went seven innings allowing two runs (one earned) and six hits.He struck out five and walked three as he won his 10th straight decision dating back to last year. PHIL BENANTE (Poughkeepsie, NY/Arlington),who had beaten Montclair in each of the last two seasons (including one win at the 2000 NCAA Division III World Series), took the loss.Benante (0-3) allowed five runs and seven hits, striking out oneand walking four. Boyd finished 3-for-5 with two runs scored for Montclair State, which collected a season-high 17 hits.

P.J. BACCARELLA (Bayonne, NJ/Bayonne) and Morrison also had two hits apiece forthe Red Hawks. PAT D'AURIA (Nyack, NY/Nyack) and JOSH HORNER (Groton,NY/Groton) each had two hits for Cortland.