Little Falls, NJ - Steve Ballerini (Ridgefield, NJ/Ridgefield) singled home two runs to highlight a seven-run ninth inning as Rutgers-Newark rallied for a 13-8 victory and a split with fifth-ranked Montclair State in a New Jersey Athletic Conference baseball doubleheader at Yogi Berra Stadium on Saturday.The Red Hawks captured the first game 15-1.

With Montclair leading 8-6 entering the ninth, the Scarlet Raiders (12-15, 4-6 NJAC) sent 10 batters to the plate and capitalized on three errors. With one out, Matt Buck (Bridgewater, NJ/Bridgewater-Raritan) lofted a sacrifice fly to bring Rutgers-Newark within a run. With a runner on second, John Tango (Linden, NJ/Linden) drew a walk and Aidy Acevedo (Elizabeth, NJ/Roselle Catholic) collected an infield single. Pinch-runner Jamall Angoy (Irvington, NJ/Irvington) scored when the throw got away to tie the game. Rutgers-Newark then took the lead as Brian Tripani's (Bridgewater, NJ/Bridgewater-Raritan) pop-up was mishandled allowing Acevedo to score. Ballerini then singled to score two and the Scarlet Raider rally was complete as Sean Burgos (Marlboro, NJ/Marlboro) singled home a run.

Jon Katz (Livingston, NJ/Morristown Beard) picked up the win. Katz pitched the final three innings allowing a hit with three strikeouts. Ric Haas  (Annandale, NJ/North Hunterdon) took the loss. Haas allowed three runs and two hits in two innings.

Lucio Cardoso (Newark, NJ/Seton Hall Prep) had a three-run homer for Rutgers-Newark. BRIAN ELLERSON (Bayonne, NJ/Hudson Catholic) had a three-run homer for Montclair State, which held an 8-2 advantage heading into the seventh inning.

In the first game, GEORGE BECKER (Bayonne, NJ/Bayonne) drove in four runs and SHAWN DYCKMAN (Spotswood, NJ/Spotswood) added three RBI as Montclair State pounded out 18 hits in the victory. COREY HAMMAN (Flanders, NJ/Roxbury) picked up the win. Hamman went the first six innings allowing four hits, striking out eight and walking one as he won his 28th career game. CHRIS PACIGA (Secaucus, NJ/Secaucus) pitched the final three innings to earn his first collegiate save.